Bolívar Espinosa

Panama City, Nov 27 (PL) Panamanian cyclist Bolívar Espinosa maintained the lead today in the XLIV International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí, while Costa Rican Joseph Ramírez won the sixth of eight stages.

Espinosa (Panama es Cultura y Valores) crossed the finish line in fifth place, one minute 33 seconds behind the winner, while Ramírez (Esparza Training Volaris), who also won the fifth stage of the giro on Monday, took three hours 21 minutes and 44 seconds in the 127.2 kilometers of the course.

Then arrived the also Costa Rican Andrés Alpizar (Ciclo Café-Coffe Expert-Repuestos Mena-Volcano), at 19 seconds; and the local Michael Caballero (Rally Giant) at 54 seconds.

According to the Panamanian Cycling Federation (Fepaci), Ramírez was a very hard stage, in which the rain further complicated the route, but he was able to keep his strength and come out with the victory.

According to the statistics of the giro, Ramírez also became the mountain champion by winning 17 points.

In the overall individual classification, Espinosa is the leader with 18 hours 21 minutes and 28 seconds.

In the second position is the Costa Rican Alpizar, 16 seconds behind; and in third place is the also local Caballero, 36 seconds behind.

Then follows the Panamanian David Diaz (Rally Giant) at 3:06 minutes, the Colombian Edison Osorio (Comercializadora Fam Birdman) at 5:23 minutes, as well as the Cuban Vicente Sanabria, at 7:52 minutes.

The seventh and penultimate stage of this Tour of Chiriqui, with the participation of 76 riders from Cuba, Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Colombia and the host country, will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, and will be an individual time trial of 19.3 kilometers between Chiriqui-Punta Tierra and Chiriqui.