Veteran Simon Clarke is eyeing one other large 12 months on the European roads after opening his marketing campaign in Spain in the identical method that he ended his current jaunt again house in Australia – with a formidable podium end.
The evergreen 36-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider opened his abroad schedule on Saturday by ending runner-up within the one-day Vuelta Ciclista a la Area de Murcia Costa Calida race in south-east Spain.
It got here lower than a fortnight since he ended an eventful spell again house in Australia by ending third within the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Highway Race, three weeks after he’d additionally been runner-up within the nationwide championship highway race behind Luke Plapp.
In between, although, Clarke had struggled on the Tour Down Beneath after testing optimistic for COVID-19, simply as he had accomplished after a career-defining, epic win on a brutal cobbled stage of the Tour de France between Lille and Arenberg final summer season .
“It was nice to carry some type from the races in Australia, and it is good to get on the rostrum and get some outcomes for the group,” stated Clarke, whose palmares additionally options two stage wins and the 2012 King of the Mountains jersey on the Vuelta a España.
“Hopefully, I can get some extra sturdy finishes within the races to return.”
Within the 183.5km slog between San Javier and Cartagena on Saturday, hit by snow and different troublesome climate circumstances that compelled organizers to drop one of many key climbs of the day, Clarke battled via, solely to lose out in a bunch dash end to Briton Ben Turner.
“After I noticed the ultimate, I assumed that is my end,” mirrored Clarke.
“I meant it was a bit bit harmful coming into the ultimate there however discovering good place like that’s my factor so, I simply made positive I picked the fitting aspect of the corners and lined myself up for the end.
“Turner simply had a greater flip of pace than me in that final 100 meters but it surely was nice to be there contesting for the win.”
