Colombian Paredes leads after first stage of Jamaica Cycling Classic
ROSE HALL, St James — Colombia’s Wilmar Andres Paredes Zapata will take an almost two-minute lead into Saturday’s second stage after winning Friday’s first stage of the Jamaican International Cycling Classic that starts and ends in Ironshore, Montego Bay.
The 27-year-old, representing Team Medellin, clocked 1:58.02 hours over the 56-mile course from Whitter Village to Falmouth and back. He finished ahead of his teammates Victor Alejandro Ocampo Giraldo and Walter Alejandro Vargas Alzate. On Saturday they will race to Discovery Bay, St Ann, and back — a 78-mile journey.
Speaking through his coach, Julian Velasquez, who acted as interpeter, the Spanish-speaking Paredes Zapata said it was a team effort after battling early with an American rider. “We had a counter-attack with my teammates and I attacked alone over the last few kilometres to win the stage.”
He described the course, which took them to the Trelawny capital and back to Rose Hall before looping around to Falmouth and then ending at Whitter Village as good and said he was enjoying his stay in the country so far.
His teammates Ocampo Giraldo and Vargas Alzate finished in identical times of 2:00.05. Ecuadorian Wilson Steven Haro Criollo of local-based Elevation Cycling Club; Americans Preston Eye and Gabriel Mendez; as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Liam Trepte of the Montego Bay-based Cornwall Cycling Club were all given the same times.
The first Jamaican across the finish line was the veteran Cleveland Sharpe, who was 15th overall in 2:00.51, with Oshane Williams and Jerome Forest both clocking 2:01.37 for 17th and 18th places, respectively.
Forty-eight riders, including 18 Jamaicans, started the race, which is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union.
Race organiser Carlton Simmons was happy with the first day’s proceedings.
“This was an excellent start. We had fierce competition all through the race and several changes in the lead,” he told the Jamaica Observer.