Fernando Gaviria won the first stage of the
Tour Colombia 2024 in a sprint to give Movistar Team its second victory in a few hours after Will Barta's victory in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
In a race of international stature with cyclists such as Alexey Lutsenko, Mark Cavendish, and local figures such as Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán, among others, the route of the first stage of the Tour Colombia 2024 promised strong emotions from the beginning.
From the first kilometers, the riders were determined to set the pace and establish the dynamics of the race. In the blink of an eye, a breakaway was formed, led by prominent names such as Brayan Sánchez of Team Medellín, Santiago Gómez of Team Sistecredito, Cristian Muñoz of Team Nu Bank, and Iván Arturo Ojeda of Colombia Potencia de Vida - Strongman.
Swift Carbon Pro Cycling's Lauro Moro also joined the breakaway. However, the task is not an easy one, as the main peloton, led by the likes of Astana's Mark Cavendish, was determined not to lose sight of the race leaders.
As the stage progressed, weather conditions also played a crucial role. Rains were beginning to fall over Duitama, the final destination of the first day of competition, adding an extra element of challenge for the riders already squeezing their energies out on the road.
Despite the peloton's efforts to catch the escapees, the gap remained constant. Brayan Sanchez of Team Medellin secured the first special sprint of the day, while the main group continued to fight to cut the advantage established by the breakaway leaders.
With the end of the stage approaching, the excitement intensified. In the end, it was Fernando Gaviria who took the victory in this first stage of the Tour Colombia 2024, once again demonstrating his prowess in the sprints.