Paula Patiño continued her flying start to 2026 by winning the Grand Prix Longitudinal del Norte, out-sprinting Francesca Hall after the pair emerged from a demanding, climbing-heavy day that once again underlined why the El Salvador block is becoming a serious early-season proving ground. Riding for Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi, Patiño backed up her Tour El Salvador success with another decisive finish, while Hall, already a winner in the country this week, had to accept second in a tight, high-speed duel for the line.
The Longitudinal del Norte was billed as the biggest test of the Grand Prix sequence so far, built around an extended point-to-point course of roughly 100 kilometres from Desvío de Amayo to Nueva Concepción, passing through Metapán. It was the kind of day where the scenery is spectacular and the racing is relentless, with long climbs, repeated changes of rhythm, and enough bends and rises to punish any moment of hesitation.
In that terrain, Laboural Kutxa rode with the authority of a team that arrived in El Salvador with form and momentum. The Basque squad kept the race in shape, controlled the key phases, and positioned Patiño for the final kilometres, where it became clear the win would be decided head-to-head rather than by a late solo move.
The decisive move, then a sprint for the win
As the race tightened towards the finale, the battle narrowed to two. Patiño and Hall separated themselves from the rest and carried the fight all the way to the line. Hall had already shown in recent days that she can finish strongly after climbing, and she committed fully again here, but Patiño matched her and then found the sharper kick when it mattered, winning the sprint to take another big early-season victory.
Behind them, Giorgia Vettorello completed a strong day for Roland Cogeas Cycling Team by taking third, coming home a short distance after the leading pair. The top five was rounded out by Ainara Albert in fourth and Angie Mariana Londoño in fifth, another eye-catching ride after her recent podium in the Grand Prix El Salvador.
What it means, form confirmed and confidence growing
For Patiño, this result is a clear continuation of a run that has stretched across the Tour El Salvador and into the one-day races. Winning after a day shaped by long, steep climbs is not only a marker of conditioning, but also of decision-making, choosing the right moments to commit and the right moments to wait.
Hall’s second place keeps her week moving in the right direction too. Having already taken a win in El Salvador, she showed again that she can survive the hardest terrain and still fight for the finish, while Vettorello’s podium underlined the depth Roland Cogeas can bring to this block of racing.
Quotes
Patiño credited the win to the work around her. “I’m really happy with this victory, it came thanks to the great work of my team,” she said. “The climbs were long and steep. I want to thank my teammates for this win.”
She also pointed to what the early results mean for her confidence. “I’ve been with the team for seven years, and starting the season like this gives me a lot of confidence,” she added.
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