Paula Andrea Carrasco claimed victory in the second stage of the Vuelta a Colombia Femenina 2024, outpacing her rivals in a high-stakes sprint finish. The 127.4-kilometre route, which took the riders from Cartagena to Barranquilla, was marked by intense heat, with temperatures soaring under the strong Colombian sun.
The day’s racing was relatively quiet, with the peloton conserving energy for the final stretch. A brief breakaway attempt by Daniela Campos and Nadia Gontova saw them gain a small advantage, but the peloton, controlled by Colombia Potencia de la Vida, reeled them back in with relative ease.
As the race entered its final kilometres, the stage was set for a mass sprint. Carrasco, a member of Colombia Potencia de la Vida, proved to be the fastest, crossing the line in Barranquilla after 3 hours, 37 minutes, and 39 seconds. Her teammate Paula Latriglia finished just behind her, securing second place, while Karen Villamizar took third.
Speaking after her victory, Carrasco expressed her joy at the result, saying, “Very happy, we’ve been working towards this, it’s a process that has taken five years. I want to thank my teammates who always backed me. We knew that either Paula or I could win, and thanks to God, I took the victory, and now we’re both fighting in the general classification.”
The victory came at a crucial time, as the stage also saw the departure of the previous day’s winner and race leader, Elizabeth Castaño, who was forced to abandon due to the oppressive heat. This paved the way for Diana Peñuela of DNA Cycling to assume the overall lead, thanks to time bonuses gained during the stage. Peñuela now holds a slender one-second advantage over Carrasco, with Latriglia just two seconds further back.
The race continues with the third stage, a 108.4-kilometre route from Barranquilla to Mina Pozo Azul, featuring the first uphill finish of the competition. The battle for the leader’s jersey is set to intensify as the riders face a challenging day in the mountains.
2024 Vuelta a Colombia Stage 2 result
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