The excitement of the 2026 Tour of El Salvador came to a close with a double celebration for Colombia. Paula Patiño was crowned champion of the Salvadoran race this Wednesday, adding an important title to her sporting record after winning the final stage.
The Antioquian cyclist, who left the Movistar team after seven years, proved to be the most consistent throughout the five days of competition held in Central America, which included a prologue and four road stages.
The 28-year-old from Medellín climbed to the top of the podium, accompanied by Spaniards Ainara Albert (Roland Cogeas Cycling Team) in second place and her teammate Naia Amondarain in third.
On the final stage, the Colombian victory continued, with Jessenia Meneses taking a 1-2 finish. Meneses, however, celebrated prematurely, ultimately finishing second in Santa Ana, the capital city of the coffee-growing department, behind her fellow countrywoman. The 94.1-kilometer course secured the first victory for Colombian women.
Patiño succeeded Swiss rider Elena Hartmann, last year’s champion, in the Tour El Salvador’s history. This marks the second Colombian podium finish in this race, following Serika Gulumá’s third-place finish in 2013.
Tour El Salvador (2.1)
Results Stage 4 | Santa Ana – Santa Ana (94,1 km)
| 1 | Paula Patiño | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 2:38:57 |
| 2 | Jessenia Meneses | Selección Colombia | m.t |
| 3 | Francesca Hall | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 0:05 |
| 4 | Naia Amondarain | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:54 |
| 5 | Catalina Soto | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:55 |
| 6 | Ainara Albert | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 0:55 |
| 7 | Qiuying Zhou | XDS China Women Cycling | 0:55 |
| 8 | Yanina Kuskova | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:55 |
| 9 | Yuliia Biriukova | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:55 |
| 10 | Sara Gardeman | La Pampa | 0:55 |
Ranking General
| 1 | Paula Patiño | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 9:42:10 |
| 2 | Ainara Albert | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 0:46 |
| 3 | Naia Amondarain | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:49 |
| 4 | Giorgia Vettorello | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 0:50 |
| 5 | Anastasiya Samsonova | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 0:52 |
| 6 | Idoia Eraso | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:55 |
| 7 | Jessica Marcela Parra | Pato Bike BMC Team | 0:56 |
| 8 | Yuliia Biriukova | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 0:58 |
| 9 | Yanina Kuskova | Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi | 1:01 |
| 10 | Francesca Hall | Roland Cogeas Cycling Team | 1:07 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico