Mireia Benito completes the Spanish double

Mireia Benito completes the Spanish double

The Spaniard successfully defended her Individual Time Trial title before adding the national Road Race crown to complete a remarkable championship week.

Mireia Benito enjoyed a perfect week at the Spanish National Championships by securing both the Individual Time Trial and Road Race titles, completing an impressive national double for AG Insurance - Soudal.

The first success came in the Individual Time Trial, where Benito once again proved to be Spain's strongest rider against the clock. Despite having less specific preparation than in previous years following a busy racing schedule, she delivered another outstanding performance to retain the national jersey.

After her victory, Benito reflected on the achievement.

"It’s incredible to win this title again. Every year the level keeps rising, and good preparation becomes even more important. This season I’ve been racing a lot in recent weeks, so I didn’t have as much time to prepare specifically for the time trial as I usually do. That made me feel a bit insecure, and I was really nervous before the race.

I was able to recon the course beforehand, and I had my partner in the car guiding me perfectly throughout the race. I knew every corner and every section by heart, so once I rolled down the start ramp, it was all about putting every watt I had into the pedals.

The course was quite short this year, so pacing was absolutely key. We had a headwind for almost the entire race, which made it even more demanding but also slightly longer in duration. I think that suited me well, and I’m really happy with how I managed my effort. I was able to keep something in reserve early on and make the biggest differences towards the end of the course.

Racing the national championships on your own is always a huge challenge. The logistics and all the preparation involved really make you appreciate how much our teams do for us every time we race. Luckily, I’m surrounded by family and friends who put in an incredible amount of work to make my nationals run as smoothly as possible.

This victory belongs to them too. It’s my way of thanking them for all their time, effort and support, and of giving them a beautiful memory in return."

A few days later, Benito completed a memorable championship campaign by adding the Spanish Road Race title to her time trial crown. The double is another testament to her consistency and versatility, and means she will proudly wear the Spanish champion's jersey throughout the coming season.