The Colombian bicyclists overwhelmed the Central American and Caribbean Games of San Salvador 2023, thanks to the titles of the favorites Mariana Pajón and Diego Arboleda, in the penultimate day of competition of this event, which successfully closes its curtains this July 8 in the Salvadoran capital.
In the women’s division, the triple Olympic medalist took first place ahead of her compatriot Gabriela Bolle and Shanayah Howell of Aruba. The woman from Antioquia came from dominating the sleeves prior to the final, in which she did not have major complications to win a gold medal that meant number 85 for her country’s delegation.
The Colombian Mariana Pajón, two-time Olympic BMX champion, thus achieved her third title in the Central American and Caribbean Games, as she had previously won the regional jousts in Mayagüez (2010) and Veracruz (2014).
Among the men, Diego Arboleda from Antioquia occupied the first drawer of the podium ahead of the Venezuelan Jholman Sivira and the Mexican Edgar Rodarte. The other Colombian, Carlos Ramírez, bronze in BMX at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finished in fifth place and at the finish line made an angry claim to Arboleda for closing him down and making him lose the race.
With these results and with only the MTB contest to go, cycling shows the dominance of Mexico on the track, Cuba on the road and Colombia in BMX. World-class and Olympic-level pedalists have honored the oldest regional multi-sport joust on the planet.
BMX Racing Ladies
🥇 Mariana Pajon (COLOMBIA)
🥈 Gabriela Bolle (COLOMBIA)
🥉 Shanayah Howell (ARUBA)
BMX Racing Men
🥇 Diego Arboleda (COLOMBIA)
🥈 Jholman Sivira (VENEZUELA)
🥉 Edgar Rodarte (MEXICO)