Joseph Ramírez delivered another title to Costa Rica in the Vuelta Internacional a Chiriquí, winning the 45th edition, the Copa Telca, on Friday. The final stage was won by Dominican Alberto Ramos.
Ramírez, of the Colono Bikestation Kolbi team, accumulated a time of 18 hours, 38 minutes, and 38 seconds. His teammates Alejandro Granados finished 37 seconds behind, and Sergio Arias finished 59 seconds back.
The best-placed Panamanian in the general classification was Randish Abdul Lorenzo from Colón, a member of the National Police-Aeronaval, who finished tenth, 22 minutes and 31 seconds behind the leader and champion, Joseph Ramírez.
The final stage was a circuit in the David Este sector, covering 88 kilometers. Dominican Alberto Ramos won the sprint with a time of 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 48 seconds. Costa Rican Jason Huertas, of ManzaTé – La Selva-Scott, finished second with the same time, and Belizean Derrick Chavarría, of Tag Cycling Team, was third, one second behind.
“It was a team effort to achieve this award. It was a Vuelta in which we achieved many victories and important positions, looking ahead to the Vuelta a Costa Rica, which is the ultimate goal,” said Joseph Ramírez at the end of the day.
This was the 11th title for Costa Rican cycling in the history of this race. The first Costa Rican cyclist to win the Vuelta a Chiriquí was Luis Ramírez in 1985.
Other category champions included Belizean Derrick Chavarría of the Tag Cycling Team in the Points classification, Costa Ricans Sergio Arias in the Mountains classification with 24 points, and Alejandro Granados in the Under-23 category.
Emanuel Viane of Rali Far Express Herrera dominated the Junior category, Fernando Ureña of Fundación Caminos de Omar won the Masters category, and Colono Bikestation Kolbi took the team title with a combined time of 55 hours, 67 minutes, and 25 seconds.
Source: FEPACI