Team Medellin out in front at Jamaica International Cycling Classic
TEAM Medellin of Colombia will hope to wrap up a successful first appearance in the Jamaica International Cycling Classic with another outstanding performance during today’s third and final stage, Montego Bay to Duncans, and back.
Christian Tamayo won yesterday’s gruelling 78-mile stage, Montego Bay to Discovery Bay and back, in 2:45:02 hours, just ahead of a chasing pack that saw three of his teammates, including stage one winner and overall leader Wilmar Paredes, all timed at a second behind.
Paredes, who won Friday’s opening stage from Montego Bay to Falmouth and back, and who also won all three King of the Mountain points on offer on Saturday, sits on top of the general classification with a combined time of 4:43:10 hours, just under two minutes ahead of his teammate Walter Vargas, American Gabriel Mendez of Team WBHB, and Ecuadorian Wilson Haro of local-based Elevation Cycling Club, all on 4:45:08 hours combined times.
Colombian club coach, Julian Velásquez said they were enjoying the competition, and after winning the first two stages they hope to complete the job on Sunday.
“For us, we are very happy to stay here, very happy to win two stages yesterday and today, and I hope we can win tomorrow, the final stage,” he said, adding that the mountains were not a serious issue to them.
“But [they are] big for the race, big for the cyclists. It’s a difficult King of the Mountain and we won so we are happy.”
Tamayo described the course as “difficult” and said they were unaccustomed to the heat.
“We work as a team, we work like yesterday — and the most important [thing] is winning and continuing in the yellow jersey.”
The yellow jersey was handed to Paredes after yesterday’s second stage.
“The most important thing is to win the race with Wilmar,” Tamayo said. “He will go for the win and I will try again in the sprint but it is important that the team wins — for the leader and for the fans.”
Oshane Williams of Cornwall Cycling Club is the highest-placed Jamaican, at 10th, on a combined 4:46.42 hours, which is 3:32.00 minutes off the lead. Cleveland Sharpe of Team Elevators is in 19th position, 7:18.00 minutes off the lead, while Andrew Ramsay of Elevation Cycling Club is in 21st place and Obrian Madourie of Cornwall Cycling Club is in 22nd place.
