Ismael Sanchez of La Vega's Bicicentro team won the first round of the Independence Cycle Tour narrowly beating the second place finisher. His time to cover the 114kms from Santo Domingo to La Romana was 2:30:29, only one second faster than second place Frederick Sartori of Guadeloupe who finished with a time of 2:30:30. In third place with a time of 2:31:56 was Cuban Gil Cordoves riding for the Dominican team Aro y Pedal.
The Independence Cycle Tour is an annual event being held this year in the Dominican Republic. Cyclist from eight countries are competing - Spain, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Colombia, El Salvador, the United States, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are all represented.
The next stage of the tour will be run Sunday March 4. It will cover 135kms from San Pedro de Marcoris to Hato Mayor to Santo Domingo.
