Belizean cyclist Derrick Chavarria places 4th in Under 23 category in Stage 4 of Tour of Chiriquí in Panama, 21st in general classification

Derrick Chavarria, who rides locally for G-Flow, crossing finish line on Wednesday (Stage 3) in XLIII International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí in Panama – Photo Credit: Internacional VCH Chiriquí/ Panama Cycling Federation (FEPACI)

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belizean cyclist Derrick Chavarria was the fourth U23 rider to finish the fourth stage of the XLIII International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí Under 23 category in Panama riding for US Team Rio Grande on Thursday.

So far, Chavarria has won stages two and three in the U23 category on Tuesday and Wednesday. He started out with a fifth place on Monday in Stage 1.

On Thursday, Chavarria placed 21^st out of 71 in the general classification, which includes the Elite riders. On Monday, he was 23^rd, on Tuesday he finished fifth, and on Wednesday he was eighth.

On Thursday’s Stage 4, the 20-year-old Belize cyclist clocked two hours, 40 minutes, and 25 seconds (2:40:25), ahead of 20 other U23 riders.

Stage 4 was a 99-km (61.875 mile) race from the Chiriquí Mall in the City of David to Solano, Cuesta de Piedra, Santa Rita, Potrerillos, and back to David finishing at the Parque de las Madres. The race started at 10:00 am (9:00 am Belize Time). 

Derrick Chavarria in Stage 4 of XLIII International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí in Panama – Photo Credit: Internacional VCH Chiriquí/ Panama Cycling Federation (FEPACI)

Chavarria was 6:32 behind Stage 4 overall winner, Christopher Jurado of Panamá es Cultura y Valores, who was timed at 2:33:53. His Team Rio Grande Elite teammate, Conor Schunk, who won Stage 3, was tenth in the general classification.

Chavarria was also 6:32 behind U23 winner Brayan Quintero of Esparza Pérgolas Isostar, who had the same time as overall winner Jurado.

His U23 teammate Shay Wright finished 10^th in the U23 and 39^th overall.

After Stage 4, Chavarria moved from fourth to fifth in the U23 overall ranking with a total time of 8:51:47, falling from 1:05 to 6:03 behind new leader Quintero, who has a total time of 8:45:44. Fabio Gámez of 7C Economy Lacoinex, who was the U23 leader after Stage 3, fell to the seventh position, 6:45 behind the new leader. Wright is 14^th in the U23 overall ranking with 9:04:35, 18:51 behind.

Derrick Chavarria (far right) with his United States team Rio Grande before Stage 4 of XLIII International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí in Panama – Photo Credit: Internacional VCH Chiriquí/ Panama Cycling Federation (FEPACI)

In the general classification after four stages, Chavarria has dropped from 21^st to 22^nd. He is now 7:37 behind new overall leader Alex Strah of  Panamá es Cultura y Valores, who has a time of 8:44:10. He lost 6:03 in the fourth stage increasing his time difference from 1:34 to 7:37.

His teammate Schunk moved up from tenth to seventh and is 27 seconds behind Strah.

The field of 80 riders has now dropped to 71, one less than Wednesday. The U23 field also fell by one to 24. They started out with 26 riders.

In the points classification, Chavarria remains at nine and is now ranked 13^th. Elite rider Víctor Jaén still leads with 25 points. With Thursday’s stage victory, Jurado moved up to second place with 23 points.

Rio Grande dropped from third to fifth in the 12-team competition with a total time of 26:00:22. Their time difference increased from 58 seconds behind the leading team Panamá es Cultura y Valores to 19:01.

Stage 5 on Friday will be a 132.6-km (82.875-mile) race from the Chiriquí Mall in the City of David to San Pablo, Los Anastacios, Potrerillos, La Chancleta, Boquete, and back to David finishing at the Parque de las Madres.

The Tour of Chiriquí is an international seven-stage race which runs from Tuesday, January 8 to Sunday, January 14, 2024. The tour covers 729.8 kilometres (456.1 miles), with a variety of challenges, such as a Team Time Trial, a flat terrain, three mountain days, and two closed circuits.

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