Sunday 20 February saw top Ecuadorian professional and amateur cyclists compete for national road titles in the capital of Quito and for personal glory in Cuenca at L’Etape Ecuador by Tour de France.

At the Ecuadorian National Road Championships in Quito, 22 year-old Richard Huera (Team Banco Guayaquil-Ecuador) outsprint Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Jonathan Caicedo (EF Education-EasyPost) on the finishing climb to pull on the yellow-blue-red Ecuadorian national champion’s jersey.

In the elite women’s race 26 year-old Esther Galarza claimed her first national title, while in the Under-23 category Lenin Montenegro (men) and Ana Vivar (women) won their respective events.

Meanwhile, 450 kilometres away in Cuenco hundreds amateur cyclists clad in Tour de France maillot jaune jerseys were racing at the first edition of L’Etape Ecuador with just as much fanfare and excitement as the professionals.

Robinson Fabián López was first across the line in main L’Etape race, a 148 kilometre amateur gran fondo event with Juan Carlos Córdova second and Juan Carlos Torres third.

In the medio fondo of 80 kilometres length, Christian Eduardo Bautista won with  Anthony Trávez and Javier Romero earning second and third place respectively.

It was an all-in-the-family victory for Tamara Bravo and Fausto Muñoz (mother and son) in the piccolo fondo 35 kilometre event, with Jorge Luis Alarcón stepping on the final podium spot for third place.

PHOTOS: Oscar Ayo, L’Etape Ecuador