How Girona became the road cycling capital of Europe

The Catalan amateur women’s cycling team Equip Ciclista Femení Costa Brava Mediterranean Foods Top Conserge must win a prize for longest team name in the peloton. But it must also win a prize for passion and dedication. Felisario Expósito, the man behind the team, ‘lives for the sport’. As a result, the team attracts many international cyclists, and has numerous examples of women who turned profes-sional after racing for the Costa Brava team. Olympic Road Race champion Anna Kiesenhofer is one of them.

“Cycling is a way of life and a way of helping others”, Expósito believes. “Cycling is like life; you have to improve yourself day by day.”

The former rider brings this passion to life through teams for women from the teens on up, with the goal of helping them “fulfill their dream of being able to one day reach professional women’s cycling.”

Felisario considers the team “family”, and says it is this feel-ing that “makes us special, and brings us success.”

He has had successes along the way, mentioning his 2016 squad as an example. One rider that year was Anna Kiesenhofer, who went on to win the gold medal in the 2021 Olympic Road Race. Lorena Llamas was also on the team that year, and she later went on to ride for Bizkaia Durango and the Movistar Team.

“This team really enhances the base of cycling. In addition, we believe that it is a team prepared to move forward and continue to grow, although our goal is to train people and cyclists”, says Expósito.

And to continue that help, what can be more useful than growing the team?
“Given the great potential of our young cyclists, in the future we would like to become a UCI team.”

This story is part of the first edition of Nafent Magazine. Buy Nafent Magazine online, or in the partners’ stores.