After a career of ups and downs with many more downs than ups in the last few years, former Clasica San Sebastian winner, Constantino Zaballa, is hesitant to believe in miracles. He’s grounded in the reality of making a living: “I have a family to support,” he describes after taking the final stage and the overall at the Vuelta Asturias.
Zaballa spent the winter working hard both on the road and off with a solid focus in cyclocross. He feels that the effort has paid off, and the results don’t lie either. “I am satisfied because I have seen that my work and my training hours have been rewarded. I would like to dedicate this victory to my wife and my child, who have always been there for me in the difficult times; and above all, my mother, who now gives me strength from heaven.”
Zaballa put in an incredible piece of riding to take the final stage of the Vuelta Asturias on Sunday. He made the decisive break, got dropped from it, rejoined it, attacked it, then spent the final 50 kilometers riding out to a one and a half minute margin, the stage win, and overall glory.
The nearly 32-year-old Zaballa currently rides for the tiny Portuguese team, Loule-Louletano. He spent a number of years on the ProTour with Saunier Duval and Caisse d’Epargne, enjoying a fair bit of success highlighted by a Vuelta stage win and victory at the Clasica San Sebastian. The rampant years were followed, however, by a number of rather bare season, and it wasn’t long before the Cantabrian rider found himself racing in Portugal. He hopes to move back up to the highest level, but admits that it will be hard.
“I am pessimistic, because if results were the only thing that mattered, then I would not be where I am now. We will see, but I will certainly try to show that I’m on a level with the others in many races. I would like to be a different and better rider, but I must also be grateful to be who I am, and then we will see. God willing, then I may get a chance to race on a slightly bigger team.”
If Zaballa can continue his torrid run of the past week, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to return to the highest level. He started his run with a 5th place at the 1.1 GP Llodio, followed it with a 6th at the 1.1 Vuelta a Rioja, then enjoyed a stage win on the final day, the overall, and a third place Stage 2 at the Vuelta Asturias.