Vuelta Ciclística Independencia Nacional: Yesid Pira conquers the mountain and Wilmar Paredes takes the general lead

SANTO DOMINGO.– Guatemalan Yesid Pira prevailed with authority in the demanding third mountain stage of the 47th National Independence Cycling Tour, held on the Santo Domingo–Rancho Arriba (San José de Ocoa) route, with a distance of 158 kilometers.

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The cyclist from the Hino One La Red team was the strongest on the steep climb towards Rancho Arriba, stopping the clock at 3 hours, 40 minutes and 03 seconds. Pira achieved an eight-second advantage over his compatriot and teammate César Paredes, as well as over Jorge Abreu, from the R2R Cycling Team. The stage's output was set at the Banreservas Tower, where the executive vice president of the entity, Fernando Mir, gave the official start. The day was characterized by an intense pace from the start, with a large peloton remaining compact until the final climb. It was in that mountainous section where the positions began to be defined, reducing the group to a dozen climbers. Pira launched a decisive attack shortly before starting the descent of approximately three kilometers, thus securing the victory. For his part, Colombian Wilmar Paredes, from Team Medellín, crossed the finish line in fourth position, 16 seconds behind the winner, a result that allowed him to take the lead in the general classification with an accumulated time of 8:54.52. In second place overall is Joseph Ramírez (Verrazano-Santiago), 32 seconds behind.

Classifications

In the team standings, Team Medellín leads with a time of 26:52.23, followed by Hino One La Red (26:55.55). In other categories, Jadián Neaves (Bara Cycling) leads the Under-23 classification with a time of 9:04.20. Wilmar Paredes dominates the regularity with 53 points and also the flying goals with nine units. Meanwhile, Yesid Pira leads the mountain with 33 points. The best Dominican so far is Danielky Cedeño (La Romana), with an accumulated time of 8:59.53.

Remaining stages

The competition will continue on Friday the 27th with a closed circuit of 140 kilometers in Mirador Sur Park. On Saturday the 28th, the penultimate stage will be held on the Santo Domingo–Circunvalación Santo Domingo Norte route (138 kilometers). The 47th edition of the Dominican Giro will conclude on Sunday, March 1st, with a final circuit in the monumental area of Santiago. The event is organized by the Dominican Cycling Federation, chaired by Jorge Blas Díaz, and is supported by the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Sports, Banreservas, Seaboard, and Economic Dining Halls, among other institutions.