SPAIN'S STRADE?

Is the Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior really the Spanish equivalent of Strade Bianche? Chris Marshall-Bell rides the route to find out

- Chris Marshall-Bell

I rip round a corner, feathering the brakes to avoid a loose stone, and a dust cloud kicks up behind me. Up ahead, the white road stretches into the distance, the rolling hills are dotted with olive trees, and I’m just eight kilometres from the world-famous Vázquez de Molina Square in the cobbled plaza that doubles up as the finish line of my ride.

It’s reminiscent of the finale of Strade Bianche, Italy’s much-loved one-day race in early March, but that’s not where I’m riding. I’m actually 1,350km west of Tuscany, in Spain’s largest region, Andalusia, where the beautiful walled city of Úbeda awaits me. The stunning old city is the end point of the Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior, a shortened version of which I’ve come to ride after it was recommended to me in exalted tones by those who know the area.

It was in 2022 that this part-gravel race made its debut on the elite men’s cycling calendar, and already it’s attracted a legion of fans begging for it to be upgraded to World-Tour status. The increased awareness of the race owes in no small part to Tadej Pogačar’s participation last year – when he more or less coasted to victory. Having opted to start his 2023 season at the race, the Slovenian delivered his customary exhibition performance, attacking with 42km to go and shrugging off a puncture in the final 10km.

In five days’ time, on 12 February, Wout van Aert will take to the start line as runaway favourite to win the third edition and add a large and very heavy clay olive to his trophy collection. So could Spain’s version of Strade really be set to become Europe’s first major race of the season, while simultaneously turning the region of Jaén into a gravel-riding Mecca?