In an extraordinary shot that required a photo finish to define the winner, the Dominican Augusto Sánchez (PPP Development) took the second stage of the XI Tour Por La Paz Justa 2023 and left the Guatemalan Edgar Torres (Hino-One- La Red-Suzuki), after covering 150 kilometers, starting and finishing in the department of Izabal.
With this result, the man from Dominican Republic obtained the provisional leader’s blue jersey of the Central American contest, held until that date by Colombian Néstor Rueda of the Iowa Latino-Racing Team, who entered the peloton, but gave up the lead of the race.
“Barahona” Sánchez and Torres arrived at the finish line escaped, and covered the stage in three hours, 46 minutes and 54 seconds. In the chasing group, who reached the finish line 38 seconds after the breakaways, third place on the podium was with fellow Guatemalan Julio Padilla (PPP Development Team), who overtook his compatriot Alex Julajul (Decorabaños) and Colombian in the sprint Jonathan González (Aldosa Jalapa), who placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Now the two-time champion of the National Independence International Cycling Tour, Augusto Sánchez Berigüete, and Edgar Torres share first place in the individual general classification of the Tour for Peace, with six hours, 14 minutes and 33 seconds.
They are followed, in that order, by Jonathan González, Juan Espinel (Carithos Cycling Team), Mardoqueo Vásquez (Hino One La Red), Brandon Rodríguez (Pintursa Celco) and Julio Padilla (PPP Development Team), who are 38 seconds behind Sánchez and Towers.
In the Guatemalan competition, the Colombians David Abreo (Agromx Cultivando Campeones) and Nestor Rueda (Iowa-Latino Racing Team) share the first position in the flying goal boxes, both with 20 points. Meanwhile, Carlos Romero (Agromx “Cultiando Campeones”) is third with eight goals.
On this second day of the Tour, the under-23 rider David Abreo dominated the three flying goals, grabbing 15 points. In the three intermediate goals, Rueda was second, earning nine units.
This Friday, February 10, the third stage of the Tour for Just Peace 2023 will take place with 120 kilometers between Izabal and Puerto Barrios, another partial to the delight of the sprinters.