Colombian Wilmar Paredes from TEAM Medellín EPM won this Sunday the Grand Prix Ocean to Ocean 2023, held in Panama, escorted by local rider Carlos Samudio (Rali Giant) and fellow Colombian Robigson Oyola (Team Medellin EPM), there by he took a new car as a prize after the demanding test.
“I am very happy to be able to win this title for the team. The truth is that there were a lot of people, a lot of humidity, but the route was very nice”, Paredes said at the end of the 120-kilometer event.
The race, considered the one with the highest participation in Central America, had the participation of around 5,000 runners and was organized by the Panamanian Cycling Federation, sponsored by 16 entities and prizes estimated at 15,000 dollars.
Three categories competed: Elite, Under 23 and Junior, who finished the Gran Fondo tour at the Panama Convention Center on the Amador Causeway. “On the route there were three bridges, but also slopes that were felt due to the humidity and heat,” Paredes concluded his words.
The 27-year-old cyclist Paredes has had good days in Panama, as previously he was third in the recently celebrated Tour of Panama.
His career has had setbacks, since he was provisionally suspended in 2019 by the International Cycling Union after having tested positive for EPO in an anti-doping control carried out on February 27 of that year.
He just returned to compete last February, with the Team Medellín jersey, which is a professional Colombian cycling team created in 2017. He has won the UCI America Ranking for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020).
As announced in a press conference, the Grand Prix was exclusively for Youth, Sub-23 and Elite cyclists, who fought hard for 120 kilometers.
One day before this great contest, that is to say on Saturday, a welcome pedaling took place, an activity that included about 40 kilometers, in which the participants left from Balboa avenue to Amador and vice versa.
All results here: https://gfpanama.com/tiempos-en-vivo/
Source: www.elsiglo.com.pa