Wilmar Parades, a 26-year-old Colombian cyclist, has won the second stage of the 2023 Tour of Panama on Sunday, a triumph that catapulted him to the top of the individual general classification in this eighteenth edition of this international pedal race.
The day, of 25 laps that was held at the Autodromo or Circuito Internacional de Panamá, located in La Chorrera, province of Panamá Oeste, had as protagonists in the final part Parades and his teammate Miguel Ángel “supermán” López, who he was second in the task, both with the same time of 1 hour 48 minutes and 13 seconds.
The first 20 turns were completely on pavement, while the last five included the so-called sterreto or uncovered (on dirt), where Parades and López came out to shine, taking advantage of the Panamanian Carlos Samudio (Rali Giant) who was third in the stage and the Spanish and former leader Oscar Sevilla who completed the 71.8 kilometers in 1 hour 49 minutes and 13 seconds.
Likewise, the Colombian duo Parades-López dominated the mountain passes, of third category, which they faced in the route of the sterrato.
“The team did the job to hold the jersey between us and the goal is achieved as we are a very united group and we all support each other. Now this leader’s shirt falls on me, but it is everyone’s job,” Paredes said at the end of the competition.
For his part, the Costa Rican Sebastián Brenes (Seven Card-Economy-Lacoinex) made a good harvest with the intermediate sprints by winning the three that were located in laps 5, 10 and 15, respectively.
Brenes, captured a total of 15 points to put on the shirt of this section in this Tour of Panama 2023.
This Monday, July 24, the third stage of this cycling event will take place, it will be a 109-kilometer journey between Chame (Quesos Mili)-Las Uvas, Entrada Playa Blanca, Las Uvas, Bejuco, Sorá and Altos del María.
Two intermediate sprints on the course will move this classification, in addition to a first-class mountain prize at the finish line in Altos del María.
Source: FEPACI