Walter Pedraza wins first stage of 2011 Vuelta a Colombia: Cycling News
EPM-UNE team’s Walter Pedraza won the first stage of 2011 Vuelta a Colombia on Monday, June 13. Edwin Arnulfo Parra took an overall leader’s jersey.
The race started in La Estrella and ended in Pereira. The 29-year-old Colombian rider covered the distance of 205 kilometres in 5 hours, 13 minutes and 19 seconds.
After winning the stage, Walter told the media, "This is a triumph for my department, the happiness is great because it is the first time I wear the leader's jersey in the Tour."
Previously, Walter took the overall third spot in Tour de Bulgarie and grabbed the overall fourth spot in Tour des Pyrenees. He also bagged the second spot in Memorial Augusto Triana.
Edwin Arnulfo Parra and Robinson Eduardo Chalapud crossed the finish-line to grab the second and third position respectively. Julian Rodas finished fourth with a difference of 1 second behind the Colombian.
A group of four riders made their first breakaway which included, Felix Rafael, Carlos Ospina, Juan Alejandro Garcia and Julian Rodas.
Felix Rafael won the first sprint and Jorge Humberto Martinez clinched the second sprint. But in the final sprint, Julian Rodas maintained his pace and won the third sprint of the stage.
In the final 10 kilometres, a group of six riders, including Walter Pedraza (EPM-UNE), Edwin Parra, Robinson Chalapud (Colombia Es Pasion), Julian Rodas, Hernan Dario Munoz (Movistar), and Freddy Piamonte (EPM-UNE) got away from the bunch.
The group of two riders from EPM-UNE team paced together in front of the group and Freddy Piamonte worked hard for his team-mate, Walter, and finally, Walter crossed the finish-line without any difficulty.
Edwin Arnulfo Parra of the Boyaca Orgullo De America Loteria De Boyaca team took overall lead classification with a timing of 5 hours, 21 minutes and 13 seconds. Julian Rodas was the runner-up with 13 seconds behind Edwin.
Marlon Perez finished third with a difference of 14 seconds, while the stage winner, Walter Pedraza, was in the eighth place.
The next stage will start in Cartago and end in Obando. All the riders will cover a distance of 25 kilometres.
Tags: