The first South American competition on the UCI calendar this year started this Friday, January 6, in Argentine territory. Local cyclist Emiliano Ibarra (Gremios por el Deporte-Yaco) won the first stage of the 21st edition of the Giro del Sol, after traveling 153 kilometers on the San Juan Villicum Circuit.
The 40-year-old gaucho cyclist was the strongest of a group of 12 riders who were largely at the head of the race. In the end, Ibarra brought out all his experience and escaped to reach the finish line alone.
The veteran rider, who participated in the 2009 UCI edition, entered first ahead of his teammate Maximiliano Navarrete (Gremios por el Deporte-Yaco) and his compatriot Leandro Messineo (Chimbas Te Quiero), who came in second and third place, respectively.
He arrived cut at the finish line, knowing that he was going to win the first stage of the Giro del Sol, but Emiliano Ibarra just fell when he crossed the finish line and held his head without being able to understand that he had triumphed as a result of having made an enormous race .
“I enjoy this victory, when I retire my chips will fall and there I will understand these victories more,” Ibarra said after winning on Friday. “I felt that many people from other teams encouraged me, I saw the shirts of other teams and yet they encouraged me and that makes me very happy because I will be doing something right,” the winner continued to tell the accredited media, who is much loved in the environment.
The San Juan race will have three online stages and has the participation of 21 teams, 14 local formations, three foreign teams and the teams of Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela, which will cover a total of 467 kilometers.
This Saturday the second stage will be held, which will have 134 kilometers, starting and ending at the San Juan Villicum Circuit, but before that the peloton will pass through the Punta Negra and Ullum dams. The successor to Argentine Agustín del Negro will be announced this Sunday at the San Juan international racetrack.
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico y www.ahorasanjuan.com