The Canadian cyclist Jean Michel Lachance, from the VIE 23 Factory Team, won the first stage of the Vuelta a Ecuador 2021, which began today in the city of Guayaquil and whose rarefied details were the lack of signage in the final section and pedaling with the open traffic in the city of Playas, which provoked protests from runners and teams.
The opening phase included 115.3 kilometers that Lachance covered in two hours and 52 minutes and took the lead of the race. In second place came the Venezuelan Anderson Paredes (Best PC Ecuador) and third came the Ecuadorian Segundo Navarrete (Movistar Team Ecuador).
“The stage was very difficult due to the heat, it was flat but quite exhausting, in the end it was a good time and I am very grateful to the organization for this event,” said Lachance after crossing the finish line to Primicias Ecuador.
The only getaway of the day was starred by Leonidas Novoa (Best PC), Anderson Paredes (Best PC), Jean Michel Lachance (Factory Team), Forrest Howard (Factory Team), Segundo Navarrete (Movistar Team Ecuador), Henry Velasco (Movistar Team Ecuador) ) and David Alejandro Tapia (Avena Polaca-LDU), from whom the winners of the segment came out.
The results were validated by the event organizers, despite difficulties reported by the riders, due to the lack of signage. Some competitors even warned that the tour must meet specific requirements, rules and recommendations of the International Cycling Union, since the competition is category 2.2.
Another drawback was the vehicular traffic that, as it was not interrupted in the city of Playas, caused problems for the caravan in the final auction.
The XXXVIII Tour of Ecuador covers a thousand kilometers in more than a dozen cities and includes 120 cyclists from 14 teams, 12 of them national (Movistar Team Ecuador, Eagles Bike, Team Pichincha, Oro y Grana, Sin Frontera, 10 percent Imbabura , Saitel Team, 54 Once, Avena Polaca LDU, Orgullo Azuayo, Toscana Cayambe and Montes Bike).
The continental Team Best PC and Factory Team from the United States complete the event.
This Thursday, December 9, the second day of the 38th edition of the Ecuadorian round will be played. The longest stage will take place between Salinas and Manta, a route of 226 kilometers with two second-rate mountain passes.
Classifications of the first stage:
Jean-Michel Lachance – CANADA (Factory Team)
Anderson Paredes – VENEZUELA (Best PC Ecuador)
Segundo Navarrete – ECUADOR (Movistar Ecuador)
Lenin Montenegro – ECUADOR (Movistar Ecuador)
David Alejandro Tapia – ECUADOR – (Polish Oats-LDU)