The rider from Antioquia Walter Vargas added another international title to his extensive track record, lifting the overall champion trophy of the Tour of Venezuela 2024. The Team Medellin-EPM rider took advantage of his excellent conditions in the individual time trial where he became leader to be crowned this Sunday as the new king of the Venezuelan Tour, which had not been won by a Colombian since 2007.
The rider from Paisa took the lead the previous Wednesday in the 25-kilometer time trial in Barquisimeto, where he reached the sufficient differences in his favor, which he was able to maintain in the mountainous terrain with great skill and with the help of his teammates in the remaining stages.
The final fraction with start and finish in Caracas was disputed over 120 kilometers and was marked by numerous breakaway attempts, all controlled by the Colombian Continental team, which in the end led to the sprint finish that resulted in victory for the Venezuelan Edwin Torres (Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira).
The final podium of the 60th edition of the Venezuelan round left Walter Vargas at the top, accompanied by his compatriot and teammate Javier Jamaica and Venezuelan Luis Guillermo Mora (Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea). While David Gonzalez from Bogota finished as the best U-23 rider, Team Medellin-EPM was the team champion to round off its great performance in the neighboring country.
The victory of Vargas in the Tour of Venezuela is added to those of Julio Bernal (1991-1992), Joselín Saavedra (1994), Javier de Jesús Zapata (1997), Álvaro Lozano (1998-2000), Federico Muñoz (2002-2004), José Serpa (2006) and that of Cesar Salazar in 2007.
After eight intense days of competition, Walter Vargas gave his impressions of his triumph in the Venezuelan giro, besides a nice dedication to his colleague Marlon Perez, deceased this October 4 in the middle of a tragic event occurred in the municipality of El Carmen de Viboral, in the east of Antioquia.
“To dedicate this triumph in memory of Marlon Pérez, those who know me know that I started in the Rionegro team with more Future having Marlon as coach, so I dedicate this triumph to him and to my family who have always supported me”, said Vargas.
The rider from Antioquia, a great specialist in time trials, thanked his teammates for their hard work in winning the title, which had eluded Colombia since 2008.
“During all these eight stages we had many challenges, for example, yesterday’s stage was very demanding, already with the addition of kilometers, in a week of racing with fatigue, the day that ended in Nirgua was also quite demanding, then day by day was to pass the difficult moments and seek to defend the leadership, to be there, then that was thanks to the team,” concluded the 32-year-old rider from Antioquia.
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela (2.2)
Results Stage 8 | Caracas – Caracas (120 km)
| 1 | Edwin Torres | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 1:40:46 |
| 2 | Luis Gómez | MU Training – País de Futuro | ,, |
| 3 | Ruddy Rodríguez | Team Oriental La Primogénita | ,, |
| 4 | Eduar Becerra | Team Oriental La Primogénita | ,, |
| 5 | Diego Ochoa | Team Saitel | ,, |
| 6 | Luis Guillermo Mora | Gobernación de Trujillo Orbea | ,, |
| 7 | Arlex Méndez | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | ,, |
| 8 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín – EPM | ,, |
| 9 | David Gómez | Team Gesprom Evolution | ,, |
| 10 | Enmanuel David Viloria | Team Carabobo | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Walter Vargas | Team Medellín – EPM | 21:55:45 |
| 2 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín – EPM | 0:21 |
| 3 | Luis Guillermo Mora | Gobernación de Trujillo | 1:49 |
| 4 | Roniel Campos | Team La Guacamaya INDET Trujillo | 2:30 |
| 5 | David González | Team Medellín – EPM | 2:49 |
| 6 | Pedro Sequera | MU Training – País de Futuro | 3:07 |
| 7 | Samuel Quintero | Alicanto Consulting Group-Lotería del Táchira | 3:19 |
| 8 | Luis Pinto | MU Training – País de Futuro | 4:17 |
| 9 | Enmanuel Viloria | Team Carabobo | 4:22 |
| 10 | Anderson Paredes | Team Carabobo | 5:43 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico