Repeating last year’s film, Néstor Rueda from Santander, from the Iowa Latino-Racing Team, once again won the first stage of the Tour Por La Paz Justa, held on a circuit that began and ended in the Guatemalan city of Puerto Barrios, over a route 110 kilometers on flat terrain.
The rider from Zapatoca, Santander, surprised the lot in the last kilometers, taking the victory ahead of his teammate, the Mexican Francisco Lara (Iowa Latino-Racing Team) and the Costa Rican Sebastián Calderón (Carithos Cycling Team).
At the end of the fraction, the winner expressed his satisfaction for the victory. “We are having very good feelings, that is due to the work I did at the end of the year with my physical trainer. We are happy to be here in Guatemala again, wearing the colors of my country and leaving the name of my municipality Zapatoca high,” said Rueda in statements collected by the Guatemalan Cycling Federation.
This Thursday, February 9, the second stage of the Central American race will take place, on a 162-kilometer route starting and finishing in the department of Izabal.
In the XI Tour for La Paz Justa, which takes place between February 8 and 12, 110 national and foreign cyclists participate, who will visit the departments of Izabal, Guastatoya, Zacapa, Sacatepéquez and Escuintla.
Classification Stage 1
1.- Nestor Rueda (COL/Iowa Latino Racing Team) — 2:27:32 hrs.
2.- Francisco Lara (MEX/Iowa Latino Racing Team) — 6 sec.
3.-Sebastián Calderón (CRC/Carithos Cycling Team) — 6 sec.
4.-Alfredo Ajpacajá (Copeba-Muebles Madeca-Muni Toto) — 7 sec.
5.- Fredy Bulux (Celco Paintings) — 7 sec.
General ranking
1.- Nestor Rueda (COL/Iowa Latino Racing Team) — 2:27:32 hrs.
2.- Francisco Lara (MEX/Iowa Latino Racing Team) — 6 sec.
3.-Sebastián Calderón (CRC/Carithos Cycling Team) — 6 sec.
4.-Alfredo Ajpacajá (Copeba-Muebles Madeca-Muni Toto) — 7 sec.
5.- Fredy Bulux (Celco Paintings) — 7 sec.
Flying Goals General
1.- Nestor Rueda (COL/Iowa Latino Racing Team) — 11 pts.
2.- Carlos Romero (COL/AgroMX Cultivating Champions) — 6 pts.
3.- David Abreo (COL/AgroMX Cultivating Champions) — 5 pts.