Atuntaqui, Imbabura
The fourth stage of the Vuelta Ciclística a Ecuador Banco Pichincha takes place this Thursday between San Roque and La Estrellita, a mountain fraction that ends with a double score mountain pass, in what has been called the queen stage of the 37th edition.
It will be a 120.1-kilometer route, with two intermediate sprints, a second category mountain prize, and two first category mountain passes, the second one at the finish line with double score.
This stage has been named Jorge Montenegro, defending champion of the Vuelta who is riding this year for the Movistar Team Ecuador.
- Stages of the Vuelta Ciclística al Ecuador will carry the names of representative cyclists from the country
The start is at 10:00 with a controlled start in San Roque, province of Imbabura, in a 4.2-kilometer stretch to Atuntaqui, where the official time of the stage will be taken.
The stage has two intermediate sprints, at kilometers 26.6, followed by a descent to Carpuela, and at kilometer 44.3 for the second intermediate sprint.
The first climb is up to Cunquer, up to kilometer 59.1 for a first category mountain prize.
The second climb is up to Bolívar, already in Carchense territory, with a second category mountain pass.
Only on uphill terrain, the finish line is at La Estrellita, at 3,335 meters above sea level, a point that rewards with a third mountain prize, classified as a first category prize and with double score, 14 units that can change the rankings in this classification.
In total, it's 120.1 kilometers in what has been called the queen stage of the race, without neglecting the route of the fifth stage, which will be held on Friday from El Playón de San Francisco, in Sucumbíos, back to Atuntaqui.
General classification
1. Cristian Toro (Movistar Team) 10 h 43 min 33 s
2. Rommel Caza (Best PC) at 6 s
3. Santiago Ordóñez (Canel´s) at 10 s
4. Byron Guamá (Best PC) at 18 s
5. Santiago Montenegro (Ecuador) at 26 s
6. Richard Huera (Ecuador) 36 s
7. Harold López (Best PC) 37 s
8. Esdras Morales (Guatemala) at 39 s
9. Jorge Montenegro (Movistar) at 41 s
10. Harold López (Ecuador) at 41 a
Leaders by categories
General - Cristian Toro (Movistar Team)
Mountains - Santiago Montenegro (Ecuador)
Intermediate sprints - Sebastián Novoa (Best PC)
Under-23 - Cristian Toro (Movistar)
Combativity - Pablo Caicedo (Best PC)
Teams - Best PC