In a thrilling finish, Byron Guamá emerged victorious on the opening stage of the 2026 Tour of Ecuador, a 135-kilometer route between the city of Machachi and the town of Baños de Agua Santa, in the province of Tungurahua.
The opening stage demanded maximum effort from the peloton along a challenging 134.97-kilometer course between Machachi and Baños, in Tungurahua. The route combined physically demanding sections with steep descents, testing the endurance of the teams from the very first kilometers of the race.
In addition to the stage win, Guamá’s impeccable performance earned him the yellow jersey as leader of the General Classification. His victory not only brings relief to his team but also positions him early on as the rider to beat in the upcoming stages of the national tour.
The Ecuadorian rider’s dominance was evident from the high mountain passes. In the El Chasqui sector, he upped the pace to crest the first mountain pass of the day in first place, earning crucial points for the climbers’ classification and setting the pace for the chasing peloton.
The team favored to win the race, the continental squad Best PC, made their intentions clear on the opening day with Guamá leading the overwhelming performance of the Ecuadorian team, which swept the first seven positions of the stage.
The arrival in the picturesque town of Baños de Agua Santa was filled with emotion, with fans lining the roadside to give a warm welcome to the colorful caravan. Guamá’s power in the final meters sealed a perfect day for Ecuadorian cycling.
With this explosive start, the 2026 Tour of Ecuador promises high-voltage excitement in its remaining stages. Byron Guamá will defend the leader’s jersey in the next stage, while rival teams adjust their strategies to close the gap in the general classification.
The Ecuadorian tour continues this Tuesday with the second stage, a rolling 129.7-kilometer route around the city of Riobamba, in the Chimborazo Province, which includes three category 4 climbs.
Source: TVAmazonas