Mountain Bike

Havana, Oct. 8 (JIT) - Cubans Randol Izquierdo and Vicente Sanabria won second and third places, in that order, among 60 competitors in the 40-kilometer mountain bike (MTB) race organized by the Panamanian Cycling Federation (Fepaci).

Izquierdo, still under 23 years old and member of the national MTB team, and Sanabria, 50 years old, former member of the national road team, were only surpassed by the Costa Rican of the Canel's Java team, Sebastián Brenes, of the elite category.

“The first 15 kilometers were controlled, the rest was competitive on a very technical route with slabs of up to two kilometers very hard, other loose stones, the crossing of two rivers and a lot of mud, and the weather was very humid,” Izquierdo told JIT.

This is the second time he has competed in Panama. Last June he placed seventh in the elite group in the cycling race that was included in the program of the festival called Gran Fondo Ocean to Ocean and which brought together several categories.

For his part, Sanabria is one of Cuba's best known veterans in that Central American nation for his stable and outstanding participations, corresponding to invitations from Fepaci.

Izquierdo and Sanabria traveled to the isthmus country as part of the Cuban squad that will take part in the Tour of Panama 2024, which will run from Tuesday until the 13th.

Completing the selection are Yariel de León, Pedro Portuondo, Adonis Cardoso, Joselín Piedra and Jorge Rojas, registered in the elite category, and master A Yunier Álvarez. Harold Gárciga is the technical director, and his assistants Carlos Enrique Arias and Ángel de León.

Teams from Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, United States, Spain, Honduras, Venezuela, Cuba and the hosts have registered for the Tour de Panama.