The Italian Valentina Basilico (Eneicat-CM Team) won today the first stage of the 22nd International Women’s Tour of Guatemala, run in eight laps of 74.4 kilometers in the eastern department of Chiquimula.
In the mountainous municipality of Ipala, the transalpine, who comes from competing in the Tour of El Salvador 2024 and excelled in the second stage, finished off more than five riders to register two hours, 18 minutes and 58 hundredths of a second.
Behind the winner, with the same time, were the Colombian representatives of Pato Bike Nicoll García, Lina Rojas and in fourth place came her compatriot, runner-up in the last edition, Karen Villamizar (Boneshaker of the United States).
Of the hosts, the best placed, in 10th place, was Shirly Roa, of the Sololá Association, among the foreigners who made up the top 20.
The young 20-year-old Karen González of Team Sistecrédito showed her intentions by taking the three flying goals, in the first one ahead of Rojas and Milena Salcedo (Clarus Merquimia).
In the next one she overtook one of the pre-competition favorites, Villamizar and Salcedo, while in the last stage she beat another Colombian Natalia Garzón (Team Sistecrédito) and Mexican Bernabé Salomón (Azteca Training).
Gonzalez took the points classification in El Salvador, in the recently concluded race held from March 8 to 12 with four circuits, although category 2.1 UCI, by 2.2 that of Guatemala, the largest in Central America.
The 126 riders of 13 teams that started for the coveted title will take joy this Friday to a route of the municipality of Barberena, Santa Rosa, with four laps and 110 kilometers.
On Saturday, stage three, they will cross the central highlands through the municipality of Tecpán, Chimaltenango, in seven laps and 111 kilometers. Sunday’s closing stage is scheduled to take place at the Agencia Central Bantrab, on the capital’s Avenida Reforma, after 13 flat laps, with 59.8 kilometers.
The Venezuelan Lilibeth Chacón (absent this time), from Clarus Merquimia, won the overall trophy in the previous event, between July 7 and 11, 2023. Gabriela González, from Guatemala, stood out in the first edition of the International Women’s Tour of Guatemala in 2001, while the nationals were crowned nine times, four Aztec cyclists, three from El Salvador, the coffee girls and one each for Costa Rica and Venezuela.
This high-level competition, in addition to the sporting exchange, generates a true cultural atmosphere among the participants and the fervent enthusiasm for this sport in the country.
Women’s Tour of Guatemala (2.2)
Results Stage 1 | Ipala – Ipala (74,4 km)
| 1 | Valentina Basilico *Italia | Eneicat – CM Team | 2:18:58 |
| 2 | Nicoll García *Colombia | Pato Bike BMC Team | ,, |
| 3 | Lina María Rojas *Colombia | Pato Bike BMC Team | ,, |
| 4 | Karen Villamizar *Colombia | Boneshaker Project presented by ROXO | ,, |
| 5 | Marcela Prieto *México | Pato Bike BMC Team | ,, |
| 6 | Carolina Vargas *Colombia | Eneicat – CM Team | ,, |
| 7 | Karen González *Colombia | Team Sistecrédito | ,, |
| 8 | Anette Saavedra *Colombia | Pato Bike BMC Team | ,, |
| 9 | Milena Salcedo *Colombia | Clarus Merquimia Group – Strongman | ,, |
| 10 | Shirly Roa *Colombia | Asociación de Sololá – Intercop R.L. | ,, |
Source: Agencia Prensa Latina y Revista Mundo Ciclístico