Mountain goats trump time trialers in Colombia

Arthur Garcia beat Rafael Montiel in an exciting sprint finish on stage 1

Arthur Garcia beat Rafael Montiel in an exciting sprint finish on stage 1 (Image credit: Colombia Es Pasión Coldeportes)

After a dominating start of Rock Racing in the prologue, with the team occupying the first four places via Santiago Boero, Victor Hugo Peña, Oscar Sevilla and Tyler Hamilton, the first hilly road stage was a different affair. The stage was won by Venezuelan Arthur Garcia of Loteria del Tachira, who beat Colombia es Pasión's Rafael Montiel in a sprint of a four-man group. The best Rock racer in the vertical affair was Oscar Sevilla, in eighth place and almost a minute behind the day's winner.