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The 2025 edition of the Vuelta Ciclistica Internacional a Guatemala (2.2) delivered ten days of thrilling racing across Guatemala’s diverse terrain, from high-altitude climbs to rolling circuits and urban finales. With strong performances from Colombian, Mexican, and Guatemalan riders alike, this year’s Vuelta offered a mix of tactical battles, breakaway heroics, and emerging local talents.

Stage Highlights

Stage 1 – Guatemala City › Mixco (114 km)
The opening day set the tone with a fast, circuit-style race around Guatemala City and Mixco. Early breakaways tested the peloton, but the stage concluded with a reduced bunch sprint. Local riders showed promise, while GC contenders stayed vigilant.

Stage 2 – San Pedro Sacatepéquez › San Marcos (130 km)
A hilly stage that began to stretch the field. Colombian and Mexican climbers asserted themselves, with minor gaps opening in the GC. The stage win went to a breakaway specialist who timed their attack perfectly in the closing kilometres.

Stage 3 – San Marcos › Quetzaltenango (142 km)
The first real test of climbing legs. With multiple categorised climbs, the stage created early separation in the GC, favoring strong climbers. The Colombian team Nu Colombia controlled the peloton to protect their leaders.

Stage 4 – Quetzaltenango › Totonicapán (138 km)
A rolling terrain stage that allowed sprinters to shine while GC teams stayed cautious. The day saw aggressive attacks and several late attempts for solo glory, but teamwork ultimately decided the sprint finish.

Stage 5 – Totonicapán › Chimaltenango (125 km)
This medium-mountain stage saw the GC group tighten. Riders who had lost time early tried to regain minutes, while favorites conserved energy for the tougher stages to come.

Stage 6 – Chimaltenango › San Juan Ostuncalco (134 km)
A decisive climbing day. With high altitudes and sustained gradients, the GC battle intensified. The top climbers used the day to assert themselves, and minute gaps began to form.

Stage 7 – San Francisco El Alto › San Pedro Sacatepéquez (137 km)
Winner: José Ramón Muñiz (Olinka Specialized) in 3h 22’48”
A tactical stage with rolling climbs and a fast descent. Muñiz’s late attack earned him a solo victory, shaking up the GC slightly but keeping overall favorites in contention.

Stage 8 – San Juan la Laguna › Tecpán (128.8 km)
Winner: Rodrigo Contreras Pinzón (Nu Colombia) in 3h 16’25”
High-altitude climbs defined this stage. Contreras timed his effort perfectly, taking the win and putting himself into the GC picture. Fredy Toc showcased home talent, finishing strong in front of local fans.

Stage 9 – Chimaltenango › Antigua Guatemala (200.3 km)
Winner: Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez (Movistar Best PC) in 4h 44’18”
The longest and most grueling stage, featuring 2,676 m of climbing. GC leader changes occurred here, with Óscar Santiago Garzón taking over the overall lead. The final climbs into Alotenango proved decisive.

Stage 10 – Guatemala City › Guatemala City (121.3 km)
Winner: Alejandro Osorio (Team Orgullo Paisa)
A celebratory circuit through Guatemala City, perfect for sprinters and breakaway specialists. The final stage preserved the GC standings, crowning Óscar Santiago Garzón (GW Erco Shimano) as the overall winner of the 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala.

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Overall Results

General Classification (Top 3):

1. Óscar Santiago Garzón (GW Erco Shimano) – 35h 41’39”
2. Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez (Movistar Best PC) – +1’12”
3. Cristian Camilo Muñoz (Nu Colombia) – +2’05”

Points Classification:

• Alejandro Osorio (Team Orgullo Paisa)

Mountains Classification:

• Yesid Albeiro Pira (Hino‑One‑La red‑Suzuki)

Young Rider Classification:

• Rising talent José Ramón Muñiz

Team Classification:

• GW Erco Shimano

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Race Summary & Key Takeaways

• Climbing Domination: Colombian riders excelled in the high mountains, particularly in Stages 8 and 9, setting the GC hierarchy.
• Local Talent Rising: Guatemalan riders, most notably Fredy Toc, consistently performed well, especially on stages with local support.
• Tactical Racing: Several stages were defined by perfectly timed attacks and team strategies, such as Muñiz’s Stage 7 win and Contreras’ Stage 8 breakaway.
• GC Battle: The general classification was contested right up until Stage 9, making for an exciting penultimate day.
• Urban Finale: Stage 10 allowed sprinters and opportunists a final victory, while GC contenders celebrated a hard-fought ten days of racing.

The 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala combined strategy, endurance, and drama, highlighting the growing depth of cycling talent in Central America. Fans can look forward to seeing many of these riders return next year, with the hope of even closer battles across Guatemala’s challenging terrain.

Stage 10 was the grand finale of the 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala, covering a circuit of 121.3 km through the streets of the capital, starting and ending in Guatemala City. With the overall standings mostly settled, the stage brought together sprinters, breakaway hunters and GC contenders keen to finish the race on a high note.

Route & race dynamics

The looped route through Guatemala City gave riders a unique closing spectacle: flat to rolling terrain, city-circuit features, potential crosswinds and corners that made positioning key. The relatively shorter distance compared to prior mountain stages meant a faster pace, but also cautious tactics from teams protecting GC positions. Early breakaways attempted to open gaps, yet strong control from the main teams kept things together until the final laps.

Stage winner & podium

The winner of Stage 10 was Alejandro Osorio (Team Orgullo Paisa), taking the day in the capital circuits.
Though full podium details for the stage are less widely reported, Osorio’s win capped off a strong final act for the peloton.

General Classification impact

With the final stage in the books:

• Óscar Santiago Garzón of GW Erco Shimano secured the overall win of the 2025 edition, finishing the race in 35h 41’39”.
• Behind him, Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez and Cristian Camilo Muñoz took 2nd and 3rd overall respectively, reflecting consistent form across the ten stages.
• The final stage preserved the general standings rather than reshaping them: with GC battles mostly resolved, the accent shifted to closing with pride rather than drastic time gains.

Notable performances & statistics

• Alejandro Osorio’s win in the city circuit underlined his sprinting strength and tactical acumen in an environment where corners, urban surfaces and crowd energy matter.
• The 121.3 km distance suggests that average speeds were high, especially compared to the mountain-heavy prior days — the final stage often serves as a transition and celebration.
• For riders outside the GC fight, the final stage offered one last chance for glory, apparel points, and team visibility in front of home crowds and media.

What to watch going forward

• With the GC settled, attention now falls on how local Guatemalan teams and riders build on this edition’s exposure and performance. The final stage in Guatemala City offered a showcase for domestic talent.
• The secondary classifications (points, mountains, youth) may have been decided earlier but how they were contested through the finishing stage adds nuance to the overall competition.
• For many riders, Stage 10 becomes a launching pad: strong finishes in a capital-city stage can boost confidence and attract team interest ahead of the next season.

Final thoughts

The finale of the 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala delivered exactly what a final stage should: a spectacle in urban terrain, a reward for riders’ endurance over ten days of racing, and a deserved celebration for the overall winner Óscar Santiago Garzón. Alejandro Osorio’s victory in the capital gave the peloton one last burst of excitement before the race curtain came down. With the GC decided, the moment now belongs to the fans, teams and riders who made the journey — and to setting the scene for next year’s edition.

Stage 9 was the penultimate and longest day of the 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala, spanning 200.3 km from Chimaltenango to the colonial town of Antigua Guatemala. The route combined high-altitude climbs, technical descents and a historic finish in front of throngs of local fans.

Route & Race Dynamics

Starting in Chimaltenango, riders faced a route marked by 2,676 m of vertical gain, making this the most demanding stage in terms of distance and elevation for the race.
Three intermediate sprint (metas volantes) points were set at km 64, km 88 and km 128, while the major mountain prize — a climb into Alotenango — came at km 188.3.
Early on the pace was high, limiting the breakaway’s time and keeping GC contenders alert. In the final 40 km, a select group formed that included stage-hunters and GC hopefuls, setting up an intense finale in Antigua Guatemala.

Stage Winner & Podium

The stage was won by Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez Ballesteros (Movistar Best PC), clocking a time of 4h 44’18”.
The following places:

• 2nd: Óscar Santiago Garzón (GW Erco Shimano)
• 3rd: Juan Carlos López (GW Erco Shimano)

With an average speed of approximately 42.27 km/h over the long and hilly route.

General Classification Impact

Following this strenuous stage:

• Óscar Santiago Garzón took over the overall lead in the general classification (GC).
• The time gaps grew meaningful as fatigue set in and strategic team work came to the fore.
• GC rivals will now need to be vigilant on the final stage, with today’s efforts having shifted the momentum.

Notable Performances & Statistics

• The climb into Alotenango at km 188.3 proved decisive. Riders who attacked here were able to put pressure on GC rivals.
• The three sprint primes gave opportunists chances to score early points before the GC battle heated up.
• Local interest remained strong: Guatemalan riders, notably Fredy Toc, continued to show effort and form, finishing among the best national riders of the day.

What to Watch Going Forward

• The final stage will now be influenced by the changes made today — teams will aim to protect or challenge the new GC leader.
• Fatigue from today’s long distance and climbing could make tomorrow’s race unpredictable; any small misstep could cost time.
• Secondary classifications (mountains, sprints, youth) may come under attack as riders try to salvage or improve their positions.
• With a GC lead becoming more fragile after such a demanding stage, the final day promises tactical racing rather than a straightforward procession.

Final Thoughts

Stage 9 of the 2025 Vuelta a Guatemala delivered one of the most intense and decisive days of the race. Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez claimed the stage victory, but perhaps even more significant was the shift in the overall standings as Óscar Santiago Garzón moved into the lead. With fatigue mounting and only one stage remaining, the battle for the title has significantly tightened. Cyclists, teams and fans alike now gear up for the finale—expect drama, strategy and perhaps the unexpected as the 64th edition nears its conclusion.

Stage 8 of the 2025 edition of the Vuelta a Guatemala took the riders on a challenging 128.8-km journey from San Juan la Laguna down into Tecpán, combining high-altitude terrain with steadily shifting gradients and setting the stage for one of the most tactically significant days of the race so far.

Route & race dynamics

Departing from San Juan la Laguna, the stage included nearly 2,830 vertical metres of climbing across the route. The final kilometres featured a gradient of around 3.6% leading into Tecpán, favouring riders strong on sustained efforts rather than pure sprinters.
Early break-away attempts were aggressive, given the opportunities in the climbs and the relative openness of the course. As the race progressed, the peloton was stretched, climbs thinned out the field and a decisive move was made in the final 20 km as a select group established an advantage that proved tough to close.

Stage winner & podium

The stage was won by Rodrigo Contreras Pinzón (Team Nu Colombia) in a time of 3h 16’25”.
He was followed by Fredy Orlando Toc (Eca Electricidad Ciclismo) in second, +0:00 behind, and Yesid Albeiro Pira (Hino-One-La red-Suzuki) in third at +1:25.
The average speed for the stage was approximately 39.345 km/h.

General Classification impact

After Stage 8:

• Rodrigo Contreras moves strongly into the GC picture with the stage win.
• Fredy Orlando Toc’s second place keeps him well positioned and gains momentum with home-country support.
• The time gaps created by the climbs and finish gradient have opened slight advantages, forcing GC leaders to reassess their team tactics and protect their positions.
• Riders who were previously safe may now find themselves under pressure—especially in the mountain stages to come.

Notable performances & statistics

• Climber Yesid Albeiro Pira’s third place (+1:25) signals that he’s a rider to watch in the remaining mountainous terrain.
• Fredy Orlando Toc, representing Guatemala, performed well under home-pressure and delivered a solid result in front of the local fans.
• The volume of climbing (2,830 m) and the final uphill push allowed climbers to shine and forced heavier riders to defend.
• With the average speed just under 40 km/h, the pace was maintained high despite the elevation and fatigue accumulation.
• The finish into Tecpán represents both a psychological and tactical pivot—requiring focus and descending ability in the closing kilometres.

What to watch going forward

• With GC gaps beginning to appear, the upcoming stages may see more aggressive moves, particularly from riders and teams who feel they must gain time before the final showdown.
• Teams will now place even more emphasis on positioning before the climbs and protecting their leaders in the descent and approach to finishes like Tecpán.
• The mountain points and youth classifications remain wide open: riders like Pira and Toc could challenge for these secondary placings if they keep up this form.
• Weather and altitude will continue to play a role—riders who can maintain high output at altitude will have the edge.

Final thoughts

Stage 8 delivered a real test of climbing endurance, tactical savvy and resilience. Rodrigo Contreras’s victory was not simply about winning the stage but seizing a key moment to place himself firmly in the GC conversation. With the race now entering its decisive phase, the remaining kilometres will demand even more from the riders—both mentally and physically—on the roads of Guatemala. Stay tuned for what promises to be an intense fight to the finish of the 64th Vuelta a Guatemala.

Stage 7 of the 2025 edition of the Vuelta Ciclistica Internacional a Guatemala delivered drama, strategic attacks and a surprise winner, as the peloton covered 137 km from San Francisco El Alto down to San Pedro Sacatepéquez.

The terrain & race dynamics

Starting at San Francisco El Alto, the route featured a tough opening with altitude and climbing before a descent and rolling terrain into San Pedro Sacatepéquez. Given the profile, the expectation was that climbers and strong descenders could make the difference — not simply a bunch sprint.

As the stage unfolded, breakaway attempts were frequent, with riders testing each other on the climbs. The decisive move came in the final third of the stage, when a small group managed to open a gap and ride the final kilometres together.

Stage winner & podium

The stage was won by José Ramón Muñiz (Olinka Specialized) in a time of 3h 22’48”.
He was followed by Juan Carlos López (GW Erco Shimano) +0’05” and Cristian Camilo Muñoz (Nu Colombia) +0’05”.

Muñiz’s victory stands out: against strong climbing opposition he timed his effort to perfection and held off his rivals in the closing kilometres.

General Classification impact

With the stage concluded:

• Muñiz moves to 7th overall, at 5 :37 behind the leader.
• López moves into 2nd overall, at only +0’05” to the existing first-place rider (though the listing shows him +0:05 behind Cristian Camilo Muñoz who remains 1st).
• Muñoz retains the overall lead (1st) by that narrow margin.

This stage shook up the standings: what looked like a controlled GC proposition now becomes much more tactical, as minute gaps mean that finish in upcoming stages could be decisive.

Notable performances & statistics

• The winning time 3h 22’48” over 137 km corresponds to an approximate average speed of 40.6 km/h (137 ÷ 3.38h).
• Muñiz’s win marked a strong performance from a Mexican rider in a race historically dominated by Colombians and Guatemalans.
• Among Guatemalan riders, the best finishers included Fredy Toc Gerson, Julio Ispache and others — their efforts underscore how local riders continue to raise their level in the Vuelta.

What to watch going forward

• With a GC spread of mere seconds, the next stages will have heightened tension: teams will look to control breakaways, exploit terrain differences and keep their leaders out of trouble.
• Descents and rolling terrain may favour opportunists; riders like Muñiz who can sprint and manage climbs have an advantage.
• Teams such as GW Erco Shimano and Nu Colombia will now have to defend their riders strongly, both in terms of pace-making and protecting their GC standers.
• The young riders classification and mountain points remain up for grabs — attacks on the climbs could swing those jerseys as well.

Final thoughts

Stage 7 changed the tone of the race. What might have looked like a gradual progression towards the final mountain showdown has instead turned into a chess match on the roads of Guatemala. José Ramón Muñiz’s blow-by-blow victory has put a fresh name in the spotlight, and with many kilometres still to ride, the 64th edition of the Vuelta Ciclistica Internacional a Guatemala promises more surprises.

Stay tuned as the riders roll into Stage 8, and the GC battle intensifies.