Esther Jessica Galarza wins mountain stage at Vuelta a Colombia Femenina
Esther Jessica Galarza claimed victory in the mountain stage at the Vuelta a Colombia Femenina, winning a close sprint-a-deux. Racing for BMC-Patobike, Galarza showed her climbing strength despite the challenging conditions. Her teammate, Lilibeth Chacón, also put in a strong performance, finishing third.
Galarza's win earned her the leader's jersey with three stages remaining. Reflecting on the race, she shared her excitement about competing in Colombia, a country known for its deep passion for cycling.
"It was very hot and very fast today, but I am super happy with today," the Ecuadorian cyclist said. "It is fantastic to race in front of this crowd, here in Colombia, because cycling lives here so much. It is just enjoying the race and off the race here. We are going to celebrate this victory with the team tonight."
With a time trial and another mountain stage still to come, the general classification (GC) remains open. Galarza now faces the challenge of defending her leader's jersey as the race heads into its final days. The BMC-Patobike team will be working hard to maintain their lead and finish strong in this event for the BMC-sponsored South-American team.
Photo: Patobike-BMC / Anderson Bonilla