Clinging to the handlebars with all his might, in a meter by meter fight against his rivals, the Argentine Sergio Fredes (KTM) recovered this Saturday the leading mesh of the Tour of Porvenir by winning the Queen Stage one day from the end of the race.
As on that afternoon of January 26, 2011 when the Spanish Alberto Contador made San Luis and tourists vibrate in that year’s Tour de San Luis, this time the cyclist from Ranchos, Buenos Aires province, crowned the top of the Mirador de Potrero after a hard task of 148.8 kilometers at an average of 43 kilometers per hour.
With a time of 3h23’15” and encouraged by the crowd, Fredes battled pedal by pedal from the start of the climb alongside Juan Pablo Dotti (SEP) -the previous mesh leader- who finished second, and Martín Vidaurre (Selección de Chile), who completed the podium.
After the fourth round of the competition, the roles were reversed. Dotti, who had dressed as the leader after the time trial and had stripped Fredes of first place in the General, had to return the shirt. The two main cheerleaders of the Tour of Porvenir are separated by two seconds facing the trophy. Third was the Panamanian Franklin Archibold at 51 seconds. That is why nothing has been said yet and the last stage will be exciting until the finish line.
A demanding and tense fraction
Faced with sweltering temperatures, the Queen Stage covered the mountain circuit with passes through El Durazno, El Trapiche, La Florida and the Potrero de los Funes International Circuit. From there he went through the EDIRO, he stepped on the Circunvalación avenue of the capital city and the 25 de Mayo Highway, he traveled to Villa de la Quebrada and climbed the route that connects La Punta with Potrero de los Funes to the Mirador with its already traditional high end.
Throughout this journey, the 19 escapees, which were later reduced to eight, played the intermediate goals of the sprint and the mountains: Vidaurre kept the purple mountain jersey and Manuel Lira (Chile National Team) put on the red jersey of the packers.
As soon as the route inclined upwards, the escape vanished and the favorites for the final victory, like three honorable musketeers, Fredes, Vidaurre and Dotti, fought on their bikes to see who was the strongest. Behind, in a desperate effort to catch up with them, were Leandro Messineo (Chimbas Te Quiero), Franklin Archibold (Panama is Culture) and César Fredes (SEP).
The tension rose to the maximum and in an exciting finish, Fredes had a little more rest and emulating the Colombian José Serpa, in the 2011 San Luis Tour, he proclaimed himself the new king of the Mirador and dreams of glory.
This Sunday will be the end. With a fierce dispute, without quarter because the General classification is not yet defined and anything can happen. The farewell section will have the capital city, Juana Koslay, Cruz de Piedra and Potrero as scenarios, with definition on Av. Circunvalación.