Mexico delivered a high-impact performance in the U23 road race at the 2026 Pan American Road Cycling Championships in Montería, with brothers José Juan Prieto and José Antonio Prieto winning the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in what has been one of the most remarkable celebrations in these continental games.
The official result was 3:43:39 for the Mexican champion, with Colombian Cristian Vélez finishing second, all with the same time. The race took place on Saturday, March 21, in Cereté, as part of the continental calendar being held in Montería and Córdoba from March 16 to 22.
The men’s U23 road race covered a distance of 160.8 kilometers, divided into 12 laps of a 13.4-kilometer circuit, a course that ultimately led to a mass sprint finish. José Juan Prieto appeared at the precise moment, when the race demanded power and race awareness in the final meters.
The race was flat, without any major climbs, which practically set the stage for a sprint finish. Under these conditions, the finale favored the sprinters, and Mexico responded with precision: placing two riders on the podium and decisively winning the race in the final push.
The finish did not disappoint in terms of speed, with several attempts to break away from the peloton in the closing stages, although none succeeded before the decisive sprint. There, the Mexican found the opening and launched the attack that took him to the top of the Pan American podium.
The outcome also reflected the difficulty of the race. The first 29 riders crossed the finish line with the same time as the winner, a sign of how close the fight for the medals was and how precise the sprint was. Behind the podium, Venezuelan Arlex Méndez finished fourth, while Argentinian Facundo Ambrosi rounded out the top five, both with a time of 3:43:39, according to the official results document.
“It’s been a very happy day for both of us. We had a strategy before the start and we executed it. The sun wasn’t as harsh as we expected, but the course was tough and the team did a great job,” declared the champion, who posed for the cameras and was mistaken for his brother by many, as they are twins and the physical difference between them is striking.
In addition to José Juan Prieto’s gold and José Antonio Prieto’s bronze, Mexico solidified its strong performance with Sebastián Ruiz’s ninth-place finish, tied with the leading group, while Jesús Uriel Chaparro finished 36th, 20 seconds behind. This performance reinforced the Mexican team’s presence in a competition where the battle for control of the race was primarily between Mexico and Colombia.
The continental competition concludes this Sunday with the elite men’s race, a 206.4-kilometer event through the streets of Montería. The Colombian team will consist of Wilmar Paredes, Álvaro Hodeg, Nicolás Gómez, Fernando Gaviria, and Walter Vargas.
Resultados Campeonato Panamericano de Ruta (SUB-23)
Cereté – Cereté (160,8 km)
| 1 | José Juan Prieto | México | 3:43:39 |
| 2 | Cristián Velez | Colombia | m.t. |
| 3 | José Antonio Prieto | México | m.t. |
| 4 | Arlex Méndez | Venezuela | m.t. |
| 5 | Facundo Ambrossi | Argentina | m.t. |
| 6 | Luis Fernando Bonfim | Brasil | m.t. |
| 7 | Jadian Neaves | Trinidad & Tobago | m.t. |
| 8 | Martín Mancilla | Chile | m.t. |
| 9 | Sebastián Ruiz | México | m.t. |
| 10 | Nahuel Cruz | República Dominicana | m.t. |