For Red Hook Criterium Milano No.8 several pro road cyclists registered. However, 1 name jumps out, Ivan Cortina. Ivan is a very talented Spanish UCI World-Tour rider for Bahrain-Merida who at 21 already got a 5th and a 3rd place in Grand Tour stage (Vuelta ’17). It is always great to have world-class pro cyclists entering Red Hook Crit, but Ivan’s registration seems to be extra special as he will actually represent his World-Tour team the Bahrain-Merida. So far, UCI teams were reluctant and often very hostile towards RHC and fixed gear crits in general. It seems that Bahrain-Merida does value Red Hook Criterium and the publicity that Ivan can get from it. Hopefully, Ivan’s registration is a turning point and form now on more cyclists with RHC ambitions will be allowed by their teams to enter! It will be interesting to see how Ivan will hold up against world-class fixed gear crit riders. Of course it will be very interesting to see how Ivan will be doing. With the power that he has and the race being on the fastest course of the RHC series, Ivan might have a great shot at a magical debut.
Text: Brian Megens
