In a mountainous finish of second category, Cristian Rico (Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli) took a spectacular victory in the sixth stage of the Tour of Colombia 2024, which was disputed over 173.3 kilometers between Buga and Apía.
The boyacense rider was the strongest in the crucial climb and crossed the finish line in first place, followed by Yesid Pira (Alcaldía de Manizales-100 Huevos) at 5 seconds and Adrián Bustamante (GW Erco Shimano) at 7 seconds, who came 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Ten seconds behind the winner came fourth the leader Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia), who kept the yellow jersey and increased his gap with Wilson Peña (Team Sistecrédito), his closest rival for the title.
In the early stages of the day, the compact peloton began its journey through a flat terrain until reaching Alto Cerrito, and then passing through the municipality of La Virginia. The breakaway of the day was formed by Alejandro Osorio (GW Erco Shimano), Sebastián Castaño (Team Sistecrédito), Brayan Sánchez (Team Medellín-EPM) and Carlos Julián Quintero (Avinal-Alcaldía El Carmen de Viboral).
The four riders fought to stay in the lead of the race, however, the peloton always had them under control and ended up neutralizing them before reaching the last climb before the initiative of Team Sistecrédito.
On the last climb of the day, the contenders for the title of the Colombian round appeared, where the Sistecrédito accelerated the pace with Wilson Peña, further selecting the group of favorites, leaving behind Sergio Luis Henao, teammate of the leader.
In the closing, Cristian Rico (Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli) was the one with the most physical arrests to take his second victory of the season, after the one obtained in the Clásica Nacional de Ciclismo Ciudad de Fusagasugá.
This Friday, June 20, the seventh last of the Colombian round will be disputed, a leg-breaking day starting in Pereira and finishing in Riosucio, on a 155.3-kilometer route. On Sunday at the Alto de las Palmas, we will know the successor of Miguel Ángel Supermán López, last year’s champion.
Tour of Colombia (2.2)
Results Stage 6 | Buga – Apía (173,3 km)
| 1 | Cristian David Rico | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 3:52:39 |
| 2 | Yesid Pira | Alcaldía de Manizales – 100% Huevos | 0:05 |
| 3 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 0:07 |
| 4 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 0:10 |
| 5 | Wilson Peña | Team Sistecredito | 0:19 |
| 6 | Diego Camargo | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 0:24 |
| 7 | David Cadena | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | ,, |
| 8 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín-EPM | 0:31 |
| 9 | Robinson López | GW Erco Shimano | 0:33 |
| 10 | Víctor Ocampo | Team Medellín-EPM | 0:52 |
Ranking General
| 1 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 23:33:02 |
| 2 | Wilson Peña | Team Sistecredito | 0:54 |
| 3 | Diego Camargo | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 1:03 |
| 4 | Adrián Bustamante | GW Erco Shimano | 1:21 |
| 5 | Javier Jamaica | Team Medellín-EPM | 1:52 |
| 6 | Robinson López | GW Erco Shimano | 2:32 |
| 7 | Julián Cardona | Team Medellín-EPM | 2:39 |
| 8 | Cristian David Rico | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 2:49 |
| 9 | Yesid Pira | Alcaldía de Manizales – 100% Huevos | 3:53 |
| 10 | David Cadena | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 3:56 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico