Belizean cyclist Derrick Chavarria places 5th in U23 category in 1st stage of Tour of Chiriquí in Panama riding for US Team Rio Grande

Photo Credit: Rubén Morales Iglesias

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belizean cyclist Derrick Chavarria finished in fifth place in the U23 category in 1^st stage of the XLIII International Cycling Tour of Chiriquí (Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Chiriquí) in Panama riding for US Team Rio Grande. Chavarria placed 23^rd in the general classification.

Twenty-year-old Chavarria clocked 16 minute and 29 seconds (16:29) just ahead of teammate Shay Wright who had the same time. They were one minute and one second (1:01) behind the U23 leader, Dylan Jimenez of 7C Economy Lacoinex who was timed at 15:28.

Derrick was also 1:01 behind overall winner, Elite rider Daniel Oses of the 7C Economy Lacoinex, who topped a ten-man group that rode together across the finish line. Six 7C Economy Lacoinex riders, including U23 winner Jimenez, were among the top ten.

Derrick Chavarria 

Chavarria and three of his teammates rode in together. Conor Schunk was 24^th, Wright 25^th, and Torin Kray-Mawhorr was 26^th. Schunk and Kray-Mawhorr are Elite riders.

Rio Grande finished sixth overall in the 12-team competition. 7C Economy Lacoinex were the winning team.

Stage 2 on Tuesday will be a 96.6-km (60.375 mile) closed criterium at the Kenny Serracin Stadium at 10:00 am (9:00 am Belize Time). Riding on a 4.83 kilometre course the cyclists will ride 20 laps.

The Tour of Chiriquí is an international seven-stage race which runs from Tuesday, January 8 to Sunday, January 14, 2024. The cyclists will cover 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.

Derrick Chavarria with US Team Rio Grande (4th from left)

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