In a final with a small steep climb, Edwin Torres (Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira) won the third stage of the Tour of Venezuela 2024, a 205-kilometer fraction, which connected Monay with Barquisimeto. David González (Team Medellín-EPM) from Bogota remained in command of the general classification.
Torres, 27, was the fastest on the short climb, beating his compatriots Arlex Méndez (Alicanto Consulting Group- Lotería del Táchira) and Roniel Campos (Team La Guacamaya Indet Trujillo), who finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Four Colombians were in the top 10 of the stage: Javier Jamaica (Team Medellin-EPM) finished 5th, Diego Ochoa (Team Saitel) finished 6th, David Gonzalez (Team Medellin-EPM) 8th and Walter Vargas (Team Medellin-EPM) finished 9th.
Under a bright sun, the multicolored caravan began the third day with a two-man breakaway formed by local riders, in which Yorman Fuentes Team (La Guacamaya INDET Trujillo) and Fernando Briceño (Team Trululu) stood out, but they were quickly caught by the peloton.
Passing the halfway point, Fernando Briceño tried again this time in company of Yoisnerth Rondón (Team Carababo), who fought a very interesting fight with the peloton, but before reaching the last 30 kilometers they were neutralized by the leading group led by Team Medellín-EPM.
The 61st edition of the Venezuelan round will continue this Wednesday in Barquisimeto with the fourth stage, a 25-kilometer individual time trial, which will begin to define the podium positions.
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela (2.2)
Results Stage 3 | Monay › Barquisimeto (205 km)
| 1 | Edwin Torres | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 4:53:29 |
| 2 | Arlex Méndez | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | ,, |
| 3 | Roniel Campos | Team La Guacamaya INDET Trujillo | ,, |
| 4 | Luis Guillermo Mora | Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea | ,, |
| 5 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín – EPM | ,, |
| 6 | Diego Ochoa | Team Saitel | ,, |
| 7 | Samuel Quintero | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | ,, |
| 8 | David González | Team Medellín – EPM | ,, |
| 9 | Walter Vargas | Team Medellín – EPM | ,, |
| 10 | Luis Pinto | MU Training – País de Futuro | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | David González | Team Medellín – EPM | 10:09:07 |
| 2 | Luis Guillermo Mora | Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea | 0:08 |
| 3 | Luis Pinto | MU Training – País de Futuro | 0:43 |
| 4 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín – EPM | 0:47 |
| 5 | Arlex Méndez | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 0:49 |
| 6 | Walter Vargas | Team Medellín – EPM | 0:53 |
| 7 | Roniel Campos | Team La Guacamaya INDET Trujillo | 0:57 |
| 8 | Samuel Quintero | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 1:01 |
| 9 | John Alberto Nava | Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea | 1:04 |
| 10 | Julián Cardona | Team Medellín – EPM | 1:07 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico