An interesting battle between the climbers took place in the fifth stage of the Tour of Táchira 2024, where the Venezuelan Juan Ruiz (Trujillo Governorate) took victory in La Grita, after traveling 134.4 kilometers starting in La Tendida.
Last year’s runner-up surpassed the leader of the race, the Ecuadorian Jonathan Caicedo (Team Petrolike – Androni Giocatolli) and Nelson Camargo (Trujillo Governorate). The best beetle was Edgar Andrés Pinzón from Boyacá (GW Erco Shimano), entering in sixth position.
Regarding the general classification, the Ecuadorian Caicedo defended the lead. The podium is completed by Venezuelans Juan Ruiz (Trujillo Governorate) and Nelson Camargo (Trujillo Governorate), 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The mountainous journey began with the movement of eight men. The escape was made up of José Alarcón (Team Fundación Ángeles Hernández), Brayan Revete (Venezuela País Futuro), Yilber Ramírez (Team Osorio Grupo City Bikes), Yorman Fuentes (Team La Guacamaya-Indet Trujillo), Julio Blanco (Team La Guacamaya- Indet Trujillo), Daniel Abreu (Camimpeg Carbomat), Daniel Bonilla (Grupo Intxausti) and David Mendoza (Team MM Mutraining), however, were all captured on the penultimate climb of the day.
Passing Alto del Suspiro, a quartet was put together at the head of the race with Julio Blanco (Team La Guacamaya-Indet Trujillo), Nelson Camargo (Gobernación de Trujillo), Eduin Becerra (Team Fundación Ángeles Hernández) and Ángel Rivas (Team Fundación Ángeles Hernandez).
Reaching the top, the group of favorites caught up with the four adventurers. On the descent, Venezuelan Julio Blanco suffered a fall. In the second category mountain prize in Seboruco Nelson Camargo (Trujillo Governorate) crowned first, closely followed by Manuel ‘El Gato’ Medina (Bandes – Government of La Guaira), Pedro Sequera (Bandes – Government of La Guaira) and the Colombian Edgar Andrés Pinzón (GW Erco Shimano).
With 5 kilometers left, the Colombian Brandon Rojas Vega (GW Erco Shimano), the sub-23 leader of the race, attacked and the veteran Venezuelan runner Manuel ‘El Gato’ Medina (Bandes – Government of La Guaira) caught his wheel. .
In the closing, last year’s runner-up Juan Ruiz (Trujillo Governorate) was the strongest and surpassed everyone to enter the finish line alone with a few seconds ahead of the solid leader, the Ecuadorian Jonathan Caicedo (Team Petrolike – Androni Giocatolli ).
The Venezuelan round will continue this Friday with another mountainous section, the sixth stage of the Tachira race, the second high mountain stage over 129.6 kilometers starting in San Rafael del Piñal and arriving in Borotá, where climbers and aspirants will once again measure their strength. to the title.
Stage 5 | La Tendida – La Grita (134,4 km)
1 | Juan José Ruiz | Gobernación de Trujillo | 3:24:20 |
2 | Jonathan Klever Caicedo *Ecuador | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 0:04 |
3 | Nelson Camargo | Gobernación de Trujillo | 0:08 |
4 | Yonathan Monsalve | Selección de Venezuela | 0:17 |
5 | Luis Pinto | Team MM Mutraining | 0:18 |
General Ranking
1 | Jonathan Klever Caicedo *Ecuador | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 15:41:48 |
2 | Juan José Ruiz | Gobernación de Trujillo | 0:33 |
3 | Nelson Camargo | Gobernación de Trujillo | 0:55 |
4 | Luis Pinto | Team MM Mutraining | 1:06 |
5 | Edgar Andrés Pinzón *Colombia | GW Erco Shimano | 1:13 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico