Luis Angel Mate spent the day in a 138km lead pack in the disastrous opening stage of the Norwegian Arctic Race.

The Spanish rider, who is in his second season with Euskaltel-Euskadi, is preparing for the Vuelta a España.

He is looking to make an impact in the upcoming Grand Tour, not just to show off the famous orange jersey or compete for minor prizes, but also to make Spain's first Grand Tour win in two years.

Not only that, the 38-year-old will be racing to restore the forests of Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja Natural Park in southern Andalusia. This natural park, which will be the setting for the summit finish in Estepona on stage 12 of the Vuelta, has been hit hard by forest fires in recent years.

Mate, who hails from nearby Marbella, has pledged to donate 100 trees to the reforestation project and will also donate one tree for every kilometer ridden in the run.

"Thirty thousand hectares of Sierra Bermeja burned last year. 'With all the talk about the climate crisis, I think now is the time to take action. I think it is everyone's responsibility."

"For me, it is very important to organize such an event. Even in Spain, the climate change is unbelievable, with forest fires and so on. We have the best stadium in the world and it is the responsibility of all of us to take care of our homeland

"For that reason I only think about future generations and giving them a better future. That's why I do what I do."

Vuelta organizer Unipublic has also pledged to donate 100 trees to the project, and Euskaltel Euskadi will do the same. The environmentally conscious yerba mate has confirmed these commitments, having said in the past that he bicycles (he rode over 1,000 km from last year's Vuelta to return home) and buys from small businesses.

"It was terrible, terrible," Mate said of the fire and its damage. And now, a year later, it's time to reopen. And now, with the Vuelta and the stage taking place at the same time, it's the perfect time to show it to as many people as possible."

"Many people, many companies, many organizations - everyone wants to help.

Mate is on the Euskaltel long list for the Vuelta and is certain to be among the final eight, having ridden hundreds of kilometers in breakaway groups in previous Vueltas.

"I don't know," laughed Mate.

"It's definitely one of the best motivations to get away again this year.

"Also, the Vuelta and my team plant the same number of trees as I do, and a lot of people help, buy, and come to plant trees. It's amazing."

"Every day in Vuelta, every week, I hope that this idea will grow and eventually we will have this amazing thing called Vuelta Forest.