In a final at pure speed, Valentina Basilico was victorious this Wednesday in the Grand Prix El Salvador. The Italian cyclist of the Eneicat-CM Team was the fastest in the packaging through the streets of the city of Sonsonate, where 95 cyclists from 15 different teams participated.
The European rider beat the riders of the Roland team in the sprint. Russian Tamara Dronova and Dutch Sylvie Swinkels completed the podium in second and third place, respectively. The best Colombian was Karen Gonzalez (Team Sistecrédito), who finished in position.
“It’s the second day of racing, the heat was a lot, I’m Italian and in Italy it’s winter, the temperature (there) is low. The other teams are very strong, especially Roland, who started a lot. My team is very strong because we tried serene in all the breakaways. In the end it was a breakaway of mine with a teammate. We didn’t know if we would make it, but I prefer to sprint, I’m a bit of a sprinter,” Basilico said after crossing the finish line.
“There was a climb that I was told was like two or three kilometers, it was very fleeting, with a lot of difficulty, but we got ahead well and I’m happy with how it went,” the Italian added.
“I hope (tomorrow) to do well like today or also (win) my team because my teammates are very good and they deserve to win too. I’m happy because my team and I need the points,” she concluded.
The first edition of the Salvadoran race had a route of 89 kilometers mostly flat between San Salvador and Sonsonate. The closing was a little inclined, something that was not an impediment for the sprinters to play for the final victory.
On Wednesday the third event of the Tour El Salvador 2024 will take place. It is the Grand Prix Presidente that will also have as starting point the Plaza Salvador del Mundo and the finish line will be in Juayúa, being a route of 104 kilometers.
Grand Prix El Salvador (1.1)
San Salvador – Sonsonate (89 km)
| 1 | Valentina Basilico | Eneicat-CM Team | 2:15:15 |
| 2 | Tamara Dronova | Roland | m.t. |
| 3 | Sylvie Swinkels | Roland | m.t. |
| 4 | Kiara Lylyk | Boneshaker Project p/b Roxo | m.t. |
| 5 | Karen González *Colombia | Team Sistecrédito | m.t. |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico y el El Grafíco