McGeough becomes the first Irishman to win a stage, seizing victory in a hard-fought 188 km ride marked by resilience and strategic prowess.
In an electrifying turn of events at the 58th edition of the Vuelta Ciclística a
Costa Rica Telecable 2024, Irish cyclist Cormac McGeough claimed a momentous victory in the fifth stage, etching his name in history as the first Irishman to win a stage in this prestigious race.
Representing the Mexican team Canels, McGeough's feat added a new national banner to the list of stage victors in
Costa Rica's foremost cycling event, expanding the roster to 34 countries.
The race from Quepos to Puerto Golfito, stretching over a grueling 188 kilometers, unfolded amid intense heat, strategic escapes, and ferocious competition over intermediate sprints.
McGeough, alongside Costa Rican rider Joseph Ramírez of CMS Prefabricados, orchestrated a remarkable breakaway, maintaining their lead over the peloton for over 100 kilometers.
The triumph bore an added layer of personal redemption for McGeough, who had seen a potential victory slip through his fingers earlier when an unfortunate crash two kilometers before the finish line dashed his hopes.
This victory resonates not just as a win, but a powerful narrative of resilience and determination in the competitive world of cycling.
Joseph Ramírez's efforts were also rewarded as he ascended to the leading position in the Under-23 category, showcasing a promising future for the young Costa Rican cyclist.
On the broader race landscape, Palmareño cyclist Luis Daniel Oses of the 7 C Economy team skillfully held onto the general classification lead.
Oses and his team executed a strategic play in the closing kilometers, enabling him to retain the coveted yellow jersey for the third consecutive day.
With anticipation building, the cyclists will take on the sixth stage of the Vuelta a
Costa Rica this Wednesday, a 32-kilometer time trial between Ciudad Neily and San Vito de Coto Brus.
This next stage will likely prove pivotal in shaping the race's outcome, as contenders vie for supremacy in the closing phases of the competition.