In great demonstrations, the Colombian Miguel Ángel ‘Supermán’ López (Team Medellín-EPM) and the American Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling) prevailed in the time trials (m and f) of the Joe Martin Stage Race 2023, run this Saturday in which the boyacense seized the leader’s jersey by more than six seconds difference.

The beetle signed the triumph with a time of 8:48” at an average speed of 32.72 km/h, enough to surpass the leader Riley Sheehan (Denver Disruptors), by ten seconds, and Kyle Murphy (L39ION of Los Angeles ) by 25, who did times of 8:58” and 9:13”, respectively.

A vibrant battle took place in US territory, where the Colombians were the main protagonists of the short day against the 4.8-kilometer timer, around Devil’s Den State Park on a 10-kilometer route. Four beetles were in the top 10 of the time trial.

Regarding the general classification, Miguel Ángel ‘Supermán’ López (Team Medellín-EPM) from Boyacá stripped the American Riley Sheehan (Denver Disruptors) of the leadership, with one day of competition remaining in this fight that belongs to the UCI America Tour.

Meanwhile, in the women’s branch Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling) won the uphill time trial at the Joe Martin Stage Race on Saturday. Shafi, the only rider to break the 11-minute mark, covered the 4.8km route in 10:58, ahead of runner-up Lauren Stephens (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) by four seconds and Laurel Quinones (Virginia’s Blue Ridge-Twenty24) for seven seconds.

“It was tough. I was thinking about all the fast girls behind me and I didn’t want to slow down and get caught so I put my head down,” said Shafi at the end, who was celebrating the first UCI win for Shafi, who is racing in its inaugural season.

Alia Shafi (Font Cycling Guild) attacks the first climb of on her second lap.

“It has been hard. This is only my second big race. Racing with the best in the United States is truly inspiring. It has been great. Learning a lot,” added Shafi, who finished ninth at the Redlands Bicycle Classic earlier this year.

Overall race leader Lauren Stephens increased her lead to 1:17 over her closest competitor, Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge-Twenty24), before the final stage in Fayetteville on Sunday. Emilie Fortin (Cynisca Cycling) dropped one place to third overall at 1:29 behind.

“Alia Shafi, congratulations on your victory. He was just a few seconds behind and holding the lead,” Stephens said.

Shafi was the 77th rider to start, and she had to wait until all the overall contenders had finished to celebrate her victory. The Seattle rider moved up to fifth overall, trailing by 3:28.

Quiñones, who finished third in the Redlands Bicycle Classic time trial, is also competing in her first full season on the road. “It happened a lot faster than I thought. It was a fairly short time trial. Nice and hot, I felt like I put in a good effort,” she said. I really like climbing so it was nice to have an uphill time trial to try it, I’ve never done anything like it before.”

The women’s Joe Martin Stage Race concludes Sunday with a criterium in Fayetteville, which takes place on a technical 1.2-mile course with an uphill section leading to the start/finish line.

Meanwhile, the men’s version has a final circuit scheduled that will have a 62.8-kilometer route around Fayetteville, Arkansas, where we will meet the successor to Australian Jonathan Clarke, champion of the last edition in 2022.