After a year and a half of not having massive sporting events in the Mexican State of Guerrero, more than 1500 cyclists, both amateurs and professionals, from 27 countries restarted the L’etape Tour de France gran fondo series in Acapulco on Saturday.

Just hours before the state returned to a “green” health status and officially re-opened, the state governor, Héctor Astudillo Flores, started L’etape Acapulco to usher in the re-birth of sports tourism.

“With strict health protocols and the requirement of rapid tests to detect COVID19, we once again received the L’Étape Acapulco cycling race. After a year of pandemic but with great care we began to reactivate activities in Guerrero.”

Governor Héctor Astudillo Flores

In the 63 kilometer Women’s medio fondo race, María Fernanda Espinoza Córdoba earned first place (1:38:13); Ana Hernández Velázquez second (1:39:38) and Ana Karen Juárez Pérez third (1:40:08).

In the medio fondo Men’s race, Jesús Gildardo Espíritu Romo occupied the first position (1:32:16); Damián Álvarez Pulido in second (1:32:33) and third place was Heriberto Díaz Dueñas (1:32:34).

In the gran fondo Women’s 126 kilometers race, third place went to Elena Lugo Barranco (3:24:57); in second, Georgina Gómez Regil (3:24:40) and in first, Jimena Calzada León (3:21:55). While in the gran fondo men’s category, in third place José Martínez Lara (3:04:38); second for Jorge Arturo Francia Mortera (3:04:37) and first place Miguel Luis Álvarez Ayala (3:01:40).

L’etape Acapulco is the first L’etape event to be held in 2021 and only the second since 2019 when the series included 19 gran fondo races around the world.

PHOTOS: L’etape Acapulco

Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar