The Argentinean Tour of San Juan is a prestigious race that until this year was part of the second highest category of professional cycling. Let’s find out all about this race in this Cofidis Likes Ciclismo post.
What is the Tour of San Juan?
This race is a tour of the province of San Juan, Argentina, and is the most prestigious competition in Latin America. From 2017 to 2023 it was part of the second highest category of professional cycling: the UCI ProSeries. It is always held in mid-January where the best men’s cycling teams of the San Juan province gather.
How long does the Tour of San Juan last?
The competition will last 8 days, between January 26 and February 2. On January 26 the Argentinean race will start in Plaza 25 de Mayo with the “Gran San Juan” stage and will finish on February 2 in the circuit of Avenida de la Circunvalación.
What is the route of the Tour of San Juan 2025?
The stages of the Tour of San Juan 2025 will be the following:
San Juan – Sarmiento – Albardón. Route of 136km (January 25).
Media Agua (Sarmiento-Sarmiento). Route of 124 km (January 26).
Rivadavia Time Trial. Route of 12km (January 27)
San Juan – Sarmiento. Route of 131 km (January 28)
Punta Negra. Route of 138 km (January 29).
Local circuit of Pocito. Route of 110 km (January 30)
Santa Lucía-Alto Colorado (2565m summit). Route of 142km (January 31).
Difunta Correa. Route of 122km (February 1).
Circunvalación Avenue Circuit. Route of 128km (February 2).
History of the Tour of San Juan
This competition was inaugurated in 1982, thanks to the managers of the Pedal Club Olimpia and their collaboration with LV1 Radio Colón. They were inspired by the model of the Giro d’Italia where a sports newspaper covered the event and sponsored it in exchange for having big mentions and participating in the organization.
From its inaugural year until 2017 this race was of a local nature: participating teams from the region and generally from the albiceleste country. During this time, 8 cyclists coming from the San Juan region won the competition, and there was only one non-Argentine winner: the Chilean Víctor Caro.
International competition
Starting in 2017 the race entered the UCI Continental professional cycling calendar, opening the doors to riders and teams from all over the Americas. Dutchman Bauke Mollema was the first European winner, and the following year Spanish-Colombian Óscar Sevilla won the race. In 2019 Belgian Remco Evenepoel took part in the race, demonstrating the growing level of the event, which also featured Nairo Quintana. That edition was won by Colombian Winner Anacona.
UCI ProSeries level
In 2020 the race was upgraded to the UCI ProSeries level, the second highest category in professional cycling. This is why it became the most prestigious and highest level race in the Americas. That edition was won by Remco Evenepoel, the current winner of the Vuelta a España, who was just starting his career at that time.
In 2021 and 2022 the race was not held due to the ravages of Covid-19 in Argentina. In 2023 the race was run again and won by the Colombian Miguel Ángel López.
Local competition again
In 2024, however, the registration deadlines for the organization were not met and the race did not take place. This year, the Tour of San Juan is no longer part of the UCI professional calendar and will once again be a local competition.
Winners of the Tour of San Juan
The cyclists with the most victories in this event are the Argentinean Alberto Bravo and Laureano Rosas from the San Juan region with 3 victories each. 8 cyclists have managed to win this competition on two occasions.
It is noted that this race is very valuable for Argentines, since 33 times this race has been won by a cyclist from the same country.
Source: Victor Queralt Queralt, at https://cofidislikesciclismo.com