The pre-competition favorite Mardoqueo Vázquez (Hino-One-Suzuki) triumphed in his homeland, department of Totonicapán, and the local Gerson Toc (Decorabaños) rescued the country from the top of the general classification of the 62nd Vuelta Ciclística a Guatemala.
Just in the queen stage, run over 142.5 kilometers, the defending champion of the last two editions starred alongside five other riders in a fabulous getaway in the final 25 kilometers.
Shortly before the finish line, after the exhaustion of the demanding test, he gained strength and clocked four hours, 19 minutes and 13 seconds alone, to salute with this success the city where he was born and where he is an idol.
Cristian Bustos (As Quetzaltenango) came 22 seconds behind and the winner of the previous two stages, Sergio Chumil (Hino-One-Suzuki), completed the podium, 31 seconds behind.
Gerson Toc, who was in the individual general classification chasing the Ecuadorians in the first three places, came in fourth to cheer up the Chapina fans for the weather and wear yellow starting this Thursday.
Costa Rican Kevin Rivera (SevenCard Economy Lacoinex) and Colombian Heiner Rodrigo Parra (Canel’s-ZeroUno-Mavic), others from the advanced peloton, passed fifth and sixth, 36 and 52 seconds away, respectively.
Of the Ecuadorian team, Stalin Fuentestar was the best placed, eighth, but 3:23 behind the leader, the same time as the veteran Bayron Guamá (Movistar Best PC).
In the initial phases of the route, Efrén Santos (Canel’s Pro Ciclyng of Mexico) dominated, until in the mountains the hosts demonstrated their potential and desire to reverse the general situation.
Now behind Toc in the most important classification of the contest appear Fuentestar and Guamá, who continue to lurk as second at 2:13 and third at 2:21, respectively.
In other classifications, the general team table is led by Hino-One-Suzuki; Decorabaños behind at 19:27 and the Chimaltenango Association then at 23:33.
Guamá leads the regularity with 93 points, the Colombian Heiner Rodrigo Parra (Canel’s-ZeroUno-Mavic) wears the mountain jersey with 27 units and the local Henry Sam (Decorabaños) continued with 34 stripes in front of the flying goals.
The Ecuadorian Nixon Rosero continues as the sub-23 leader, with the Guatemalan Wilson Chonay (As Chimaltenengo) at 1:18 and the American Taj Krieger (Río Grande) at 1:37.
The seventh stage of the turn this Thursday covers 124.6 kilometers from the municipality of La Esperanza, department of Quetzaltenango, to Esquipulas Palo Gordo, San Marcos.
The largest Guatemalan pedal sports festival has four segments left of the 10 days of scheduled battle, in which the caravan will travel 452 kilometers in total, with 60 intermediate prizes, 30 mountain prizes and the same number of flying goals.
Source: Agencia Prensa Latina