A SECOND Olympic medal has been added to Spain's 'Tokyo score' – this time for Granada-born mountain-biker David Valero, after an epic race that saw him claw himself back from almost last place.
Epic: A triumphant David is justly rewarded for his courageous effort, coming back from near-last to third place (photo: Screenshot from Spain's radio and television broadcasting company sports channel, RTVE Deportes)
He was not in sight of the podium until the penultimate lap of the seven, and even though he was unable to catch the UK's Thomas Pidcock and Switzerland's Mathias Flückiger – who were some considerable distance ahead and took the gold and silver respectively – Valero's Herculean effort that saw him fight from the back of the line to third place may well have taken more strength and skill than any of his fellow competitors showed on Saturday.
Spain has now earned two bronzes on the trot in mountain-biking – Carlos Coloma also came third at Rio 2016 – with the last two Olympics doubling the nation's medal count in the sport; it has only netted four in its entire history.
Pidcock, 21, from Leeds, was stunned at his own victory, having completed the gruelling 8.5-kilometre circuit over rough, hilly terrain only two months after breaking his collarbone in a fall.
Flückiger, 32, from Ochlenberg, said on his Facebook page: “What a day! I gave everything and I am really happy that I could deliver a strong performance today and win the silver medal! It isn't gold, but I'm really happy with my silver.”
Valero, also 32, from Baza (Granada province) was so overcome by the culmination of his courageous feat that he was in tears as he was given his bronze medal.
He is the first man from Spain to earn a medal at Tokyo 2020, and the second Spaniard overall, after 17-year-old Adriana Cerezo scooped up the silver a day before in Taekwondo.
