The first regular stage of the Vuelta a Colombia 2009 was won by Juan
Alejandro Garcia, who gave team GW Shimano their second success in two
days.
After Saturday’s team time trial, the riders now had to show their individual skills in an 86km stage with both start and finish in the country’s capital city, Bogotá.
Juan Garcia and Boyacá es para Vivirla’s Jefferson Vargas arrived at the finish together, with the GW Shimano rider winning the final sprint ahead of his fellow escapee.
José Ibáñez finished a little less than a minute later to take the third place ahead of a larger group.
Garcia also takes the lead in the general classification, as the Red Jersey switches shoulders from teammate Stiber Ortiz, who is now in fifth place. Vargas is the new number two in the standings, at 23 seconds from the leader.
On Monday, the race finally leaves Bogotá as the riders head towards Ibagué, the capital of Tolima.