In a memorable battle of climbers, Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecrédito) won the eighth stage of the 64th edition of the Clásico RCN, disputed over 194.1 kilometers between Viterbo and Caldas, passing through the Alto de Minas, one of the hardest mountain passes in the country and the world.
The rider from Risaralda won the duel with Robinson López (GW Erco Shimano) in the last meters, after more than 5 hours of racing. Third came Adrián Bustamante (GW Erco Shimano), fourth Cristian Camilo Muñoz (Nu Colombia) and fifth Diego Pescador (GW Erco Shimano), all three at 37 seconds.
In the general classification, Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecrédito) increased his differences with his rivals. The rider from Risaralda is followed by Robinson López (GW Erco Shimano) at 40″ seconds and Cristian Camilo Muñoz (Nu Colombia) at 1:09 from the leader.
The breakaway of the day was led by Daniel Hoyos (100 % Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales), Mateo Sánchez (Orgullo Paisa), Santiago Ramírez (Orgullo Paisa), Wilmar Paredes (Orgullo Paisa), Brayan Sánchez (Orgullo Paisa), Brandon Rojas (GW Erco Shimano) and Juan Carlos López (GW Erco Shimano).
When the good part of the hill began, it was Yesid Pira (100 % Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales) who launched from afar. And after him the favorites began to chase, although the leader Kevin Castillo worked from that distance and launched attacks and put a devilish pace, selecting the group of favorites.
Then Pira regulated, while from behind came Robinson Lopez (GW Erco Shimano). The 40 kilometers uphill broke the legs of many riders, damaging some of the Top-10. On the descent on the way to Caldas, the wet ground did its thing, first it was Yesid Pira, one of the leaders, who went to the ground and then it was the turn of Javier Jamaica (Team Medellin-EPM) to kiss the ground.
The leading group climbed strong and compact, but before reaching the top of the Alto de Minas, Kevin Castillo attacked and was no longer seen. Nobody followed him and opened a comfortable advantage, which he managed to reach the top and win the duel with Lopez to cross victorious in Caldas.
The ninth and last stage of the ‘Duel of Titans’ will be disputed this Sunday, an individual time trial of 11.2 kilometers between Bello and Alto Cuartas, where we will know the successor of Aldemar Reyes, champion of the last two editions.
Clásico RCN 2024
Results stage 8 | Viterbo -> Alto de Minas (194,1 km)
| 1 | Kevin David Castillo  | Team Sistecrédito | 05:07:30 |
| 2 | Robison López | GW Erco Shimano | m.t |
| 3 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 0:37 |
| 4 | Cristian Camilo Muñoz | Nu Colombia | 0:37 |
| 5 | Diego Pescador | GW Erco Shimano | 0:37 |
| 6 | Yesid Pira | 100 Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales | 1:16 |
| 7 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 1:38 |
| 8 | Alexander Gil | Orgullo Paisa | 1:58 |
| 9 | Josué González | 7C Economy Costa Rica | 2:05 |
| 10 | Gabriel Rojas | 7C Economy Costa Rica | 2:05 |
Ranking General Individual
| 1 | Kevin David Castillo | Team Sistecrédito | 32:36:58 |
| 2 | Robinson López | GW Erco Shimano | 0:40 |
| 3 | Cristian Camilo Muñoz | Nu Colombia | 1:09 |
| 4 | Diego Pescador | GW Erco Shimano | 1:15 |
| 5 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 1:19 |
| 6 | Yesid Pira | 100 Huevos-Alcaldía de Manizales | 2:48 |
| 7 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 2:52 |
| 8 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín-EPM | 3:27 |
| 9 | Wilson Peña | Team Sistecrédito | 3:58 |
| 10 | Daniel Méndez | Nu Colombia | 5:01 |
Fuente: Revista Mundo Ciclístico