In uphill terrain with a finish in an out-of-category pass, Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecredito) won again and won the fifth day of the Clásico RCN 2024, the queen stage, disputed between Ibagué and Manizales over 183.4 kilometers.
The young rider from Risaralda, who achieved his second victory in the race, took a great triumph after attacking two meters from the end. In second position came Yesid Pira (100%Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales) and third came Edgar Andrés Pinzón (GW Erco Shimano), both 18 seconds behind the winner.
As for the general classification there were important changes, Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia) ceded the lead to the winner of the stage, the risaraldense Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecredito), who is now escorted by Cristian Camilo Muñoz (Nu Colombia) to 9 seconds.
With the appearance of the big mountain, the queen stage of the 64th edition of the ‘Duel of Titans’ took place. The first emotion of the day was in Alto del Perico with the third category mountain prize in which Sebastian Castaño (Team Sistecrédito) won, followed by his teammate Juan Diego Hoyos. In the Alto del Tigre, the second mountain pass of the day, the winner was Cesar Guavita (Colombia Potencia de la Vida), second was David González (Team Medellín-EPM) and third was Daniel Hoyos (100% Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales).
In the mythical Alto de La Línea Cesar Guavita (Colombia Potencia de la Vida) crowned first, 2nd reported Jair Aparicio (Tolima Es Pasión) and Juan Felipe Rodríguez (100% Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales). The group of leader Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia) was more than a minute behind the escapees.
The first breakaway of the day was led by Cesar Guavita (Colombia Potencia de la Vida), David González (Team Medellín-EPM), Daniel Hoyos (100% Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales), Julián Cardona (Team Medellín-EPM), Carlos Gálviz (JB Arroz Zulia-Cazado Power), José Alarcón (EBSA), Luis Aguilar (7C Economy Costa Rica), Cristian Cubides (EBSA), Santiago Ramírez (Orgullo Paisa) and Jair Aparicio (Tolima Es Pasión).
In the journey to Manizales only Santiago Ramirez (Orgullo Paisa) and David Gonzalez (Team Medellin-EPM) were the main protagonists, however, the work of NU Colombia of Raul and Gabriel Jaime Mesa was impeccable to finish with the great escape of the day.
With ten kilometers to go, Edgar Andrés Pinzón (GW Erco Shimano) jumped from the group of favorites, but his attempt was neutralized by the men of Nu Colombia, two thousand meters to the finish Diego Pescador (GW Erco Shimano) changed pace which ended up exploding the race. In the end, Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecredito) was the strongest, beating his closest rivals by 18 seconds.
The sixth stage of the ‘Duel of Titans’ will be disputed this Thursday over 195.5 kilometers between Armenia and Cali, in another mountainous finish in Cristo Rey. The successor of Aldemar Reyes, last year’s champion, will be known on Sunday in Bello, Antioquia.
Clásico RCN 2024
Results Stage 5 | Ibagué -> Manizales (184,3 km)
| 1 | Kevin David Castillo | Team Sistecrédito | 5:14:08 |
| 2 | Yesid Pira | 100% Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales | 0:18 |
| 3 | Edgar Andrés Pinzón | GW Erco Shimano | 0:18 |
| 4 | Cristian Camilo Muñoz | Nu Colombia | 0:18 |
| 5 | Diego Pescador | GW Erco Shimano | 0:18 |
| 6 | Wilson Peña | Team Sistecrédito | 0:18 |
| 7 | Robinson López | GW Erco Shimano | 0:18 |
| 8 | Aldemar Reyes | Team Medellín-EPM | 0:19 |
| 9 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 0:35 |
| 10 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 0:35 |
Ranking General Individual
| 1 | Kevin David Castillo | Team Sistecrédito | 19:20:14 |
| 2 | Cristian Camilo Muñoz | Nu Colombia | 0:09 |
| 3 | Diego Pescador | GW Erco Shimano | 0:14 |
| 4 | Edgar Andrés Pinzón | GW Erco Shimano | 0:14 |
| 5 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 0:15 |
| 6 | Robinson López | GW Erco Shimano | 0:18 |
| 7 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 0:32 |
| 8 | Wilson Peña | Team Sistecrédito | 0:38 |
| 9 | Aldemar Reyes | Team Medellín-EPM | 0:45 |
| 10 | Daniel Méndez | Nu Colombia | 0:51 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico