This Tuesday, October 28, the fifth stage of the 2025 Tour of Guatemala took place, the highly anticipated queen stage, a 109.3-kilometer route from Retalhuleu to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta, San Marcos. The most demanding stage of the entire competition had an unexpected outcome, ending with a Guatemalan cyclist on the top step of the podium for the first time in 15 stages.
Colombian Alejandro Osorio of Orgullo Paisa crossed the finish line first, but the judges decided to disqualify him after it was proven that he had been assisted in joining the breakaway at the start of the challenging climb to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta by using a vehicle, which is prohibited by the regulations.
Osorio’s disqualification led to José Canastuj of ECA Electricidad, who had crossed the finish line in second place with a time of 2:52:36, being declared the official winner of the queen stage. With this victory, Guatemala breaks a 15-stage drought without a national cyclist reaching the top step of the podium. The last Guatemalan to do so was Alder Torres in 2023.
The ECA Electricidad rider stayed with the lead group throughout the day and withstood the final climbs to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta. His performance represents one of the most important moments for Guatemalan cycling in this 64th edition. Despite the disqualification, Alejandro Osorio expressed his opinion on what happened. “I won the stage fair and square, I feel good, and even if they take it away, I’m going to try to win another one. I’m happy with what I did. In the end, I crossed the finish line first, and that’s what I’m taking away from it,” said the rider from Orgullo Paisa.
With Osorio’s disqualification, all other positions were adjusted by one place. Cristián Bustos of Movistar Best PC, who had finished third, moved into second place with a time of 2:52:43. Jimmy Montenegro climbed to third with a time of 2:52:1:08.
The queen stage confirmed Hino-One La Red as the strongest team in the 2025 Vuelta a España during the first half of the competition. With three riders in the top 10 of the general classification, the Guatemalan team has demonstrated depth and quality in its roster.
General classification: Muñoz retains the lead
Colombian Cristián Muñoz of NU Colombia retained the yellow jersey with an accumulated time of 18:42:24. Carlos Gutiérrez of Movistar Best PC remains in second place, 15 seconds behind, while Óscar Garzón of GW Erco Shimano holds third place, 26 seconds back.
Guatemalan Edgar Torres of Hino-One La Red remains the top Guatemalan rider, sitting in fourth place overall, 3:08 behind the leader. Despite losing some time on the queen stage, Torres is still in podium contention and has a chance to improve his position in the remaining stages.
This Wednesday, October 30, the sixth stage will take place, starting in Catarina, San Marcos, and finishing in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. The 90.5-kilometer mountain stage promises another battle among the favorites.
Source: Prensa Libre