In a leg-breaking day, Ecuadorian Esther Galarza (Team Eagle Bike) brought out her best qualities as an all-round rider and won the second stage of the Women’s Tour of Ecuador 2044 and took the lead.
The reigning champion of this event was the strongest in the 82.5-kilometer stage around Cotacachi after attacking her breakaway companions in the final kilometers.
“It was a very hard stage, but I knew how to do things well to take the victory,” said Galarza, who is on track to defend the title she won last year.
As for the general classification, Ecuador’s Esther Galarza (Team Eagle Bike) took over the leader’s jersey, which until today was worn by Elizabeth Castaño of Colombia Potencia de la Vida from Antioquia.
The third edition of the Ecuadorian race for women will continue this Saturday with the third day, starting and finishing at the Plaza Libertad in the city of Atuntaqui, in a circuit of 114.8 kilometers.
Womens Tour of Ecuador (2.2)
Stage 2 | Cotacachi – Cotacachi (82,2 km)
| 1 | Esther Galarza | Team Eagle Bikes | 2:45:42 |
| 2 | Elizabeth Bravo | Team Toscana | 2:42 |
| 3 | Paula Carrasco | Colombia Potencia de la Vida | 4:01 |
| 4 | Elvia Cárdenas | Colombia Potencia de la Vida | ,, |
| 5 | Alexandra Flores | Team Banco Guayaquil | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Esther Galarza | Team Eagle Bikes | 5:13:43 |
| 2 | Elizabeth Bravo | Team Toscana | 2:45 |
| 3 | Paula Carrasco | Colombia Potencia de la Vida | 4:01 |
| 4 | Alexandra Flores | Team Banco Guayaquil | 4:04 |
| 5 | Elvia Cárdenas | Colombia Potencia de la Vida | ,, |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico