Randol Izquierdo

Baracoa, February 20 (JIT) - Randol Izquierdo, from the Cuba B sextet, dominated with authority the last stage and won the La Farola 2023 Cycling Prize, which concluded with the demanding route from Guantanamo to this Primate City (127 km).

The Avileño started this Sunday in seventh place in the general classification, but attacked hard in the second mountain pass in La Colmena (km 88, category C), did not lose control of the race and also triumphed in Alto de Cotilla (km 95).

Randol crossed alone at Sabanilla (km 115), where the fourth flying goal was located, and continued until the end at the Baracoa boardwalk, where he stopped the clocks in 4:00:13 hours.

Brayan Mandín (Cuba A), leader after winning the first two days, could not follow the pace of his teammate of the national team and passed over the finish line 48 seconds later.

Another 23-year-old, Carlos Montes de Oca (Cuba A), came in third, 3.53 minutes behind the king of Baracoa.

The final day began with the dispute of the prize in the hill La Herradura (km 9), in which the Tunero Edgar Fernandez won, as in the initial flying goal in Yateritas (km 18).

Then Yoel Caneiro (Cuba A) dominated the intermediate packs in Yateritas (km 40) and San Antonio (km 46), but it was the lanky Izquierdo who, moving in his favorite terrain, knew how to attack on the mountains with force in the last 60 kilometers.

"I am very happy with this result, it encourages me to try to do better in the Vuelta a Oriente 2023, which starts this Wednesday", said the young man who has already demonstrated his talent also in mountain biking and should become one of our best riders.