Stiber Ortiz is the first leader in the 2009 edition of the Vuelta a
Colombia, as his team GW Shimano won the prologue on the opening day.
The 59th Vuelta a Colombia started with a 7,6km team time trial on an almost square course around Bogotá’s Simón Bolivar Park. GW Shimano set the best time, reaching the finish after 8 minutes and 38 seconds.
One of the best known teams in this Vuelta, Loteria de Boyacá, finished at seven seconds from the winning team, just ahead of team Une. Stiver Ortiz, born in 1980, spearheaded Shimano when crossing the finish and therefore gets to wear the leader’s jersey during Sunday’s stage.
This year’s Vuelta a Colombia features a number of well known riders, such as Colombians Ivan Ramiro Parra, Luis Felipe Laverde and Santiago Botero.
The Vuelta a Colombia, or Tour of Colombia, is one of Latin America’s most important cycling races and consists of no less than 15 stages, including the prologue.
On Sunday, the peloton starts the first regular stage in the north-west of Bogotà, at the Carrefour store on Calle 80. After an 80km tour around the city, including a third-category climb near the end, the riders are scheduled to finish near the National Museum on Carrera 7.
