On the first mountainous day, Javier Jamaica (Team Medellin-EPM) won the fifth stage of the Tour of Venezuela 2024, winning alone a 135-kilometer stage between Barquisimeto and Nirgua.
The rider from Bogota was victorious ahead of Venezuelan Roniel Campos (Team La Guacamaya Indet Trujillo) and his compatriot Walter Vargas (Team Medellín-EPM), who finished in the Top 3 of the stage.
The overall leader remains the Antioquian Walter Vargas, who with his powerful Team Medellin-EPM managed to control the Venezuelan climbers in a challenging route with two difficult climbs and a high finish.
The day, which began in Barquisimeto, came to life in the mountainous zone, when a breakaway was formed with Ecuadorian Erik Caiz (Team Saitel) and Venezuelans Fernando Briceño (Team Trululu) and Juan Ruiz (Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea), but the trio’s adventure was short-lived.
When the terrain began to slope, the main peloton began to lose members, leaving a very small group at the head of the race in the transit to the climb to Nirgua.
As for the general classification, there were no major changes. Thus, Walter Vargas (Team Medellin-EPM) remained in the lead. The paisa is at the top of the podium, accompanied by his compatriot Javier Jamaica, who is 2nd and the Venezuelan Luis Guillermo Mora (Gobernación de Trujillo), 3rd.
The Tour of Venezuela will continue this Friday with the sixth stage, an undulating circuit of 120 kilometers in the town of San Felipe. The successor of the Venezuelan Cesar Sanabria, last year’s champion, will be known on Sunday in Caracas.
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela (2.2)
Results Stage 5 | Barquisimento – Nirgua (135 km)
| 1 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín-EPM | 3:20:45 |
| 2 | Roniel Campos | Team La Guacamaya Indet Trujillo | 0:02 |
| 3 | Walter Vargas | Team Medellín-EPM | 0:44 |
| 4 | Luis Mora | Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea | 0:44 |
| 5 | David González | Team Medellín-EPM | 1:07 |
| 6 | Pedro Sequera | MU Training – País Futuro | 1:12 |
| 7 | Cristian Camilo Tobar | Team Saitel | 1:18 |
| 8 | Luis Pinto | MU Training – País Futuro | 1:24 |
| 9 | Anthony Quintero | Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 1:49 |
| 10 | Enmanuel Viloria | Carabobo Team | 1:52 |
Ranking General
| 1 | Walter Vargas | Team Medellín – EPM | 14:00:08 |
| 2 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín – EPM | 0:24 |
| 3 | Luis Guillermo Mora | Gobernación Trujillo Orbea | 1:52 |
| 4 | Roniel Campos | Team La Guacamaya INDET Trujillo | 2:30 |
| 5 | David González | Team Medellín – EPM | 2:49 |
| 6 | Pedro Sequera | MU Training – País de Futuro | 3:07 |
| 7 | Samuel Quintero | Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 4:12 |
| 8 | Luis Pinto | MU Training – País de Futuro | 4:20 |
| 9 | Enmanuel David Viloria | Team Carabobo | 5:11 |
| 10 | Anderson Paredes | Team Carabobo | 5:43 |
Source: Revista Mundo ciclístico