Colombia secured its fifth diploma at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday, November 8, when Juan Esteban Sánchez finished seventh in the men’s road cycling event on the Corniche West circuit, olimpicocol.co reported.
Sánchez completed the 76.5-kilometer race—comprising nine laps of an 8.5-kilometer circuit—with a time of one hour, 47 minutes and 30 seconds. The Colombian cyclist remained in the main group throughout the grueling competition, reading tactical situations to stay competitive against the world’s best youth riders.
Belgium’s Daan Wilmsen won the gold medal in a tight bunch sprint with a final time of one hour, 47 minutes and four seconds, according to olimpicocol.co. Russia’s Stepan Bortnik crossed the finish line with the exact same time as the winner to secure the silver medal.
Australia’s Caleb McKenzie rounded out the podium in third place, matching the winning time in a congested sprint finish. Meanwhile, fellow Colombian representative Salomé Vargas finished 27th in the women’s 59.5-kilometer road race with a time of one hour, 37 minutes and 55 seconds, as reported by olimpicocol.co.
Russia’s Angelina Novolodskaya captured the gold medal in the women’s event after clocking one hour, 31 minutes and 19 seconds following a fierce sprint finish, olimpicocol.co reported. Australia’s Elsie Apps took second place with the identical time.
Czech competitor Linda Sitkova claimed the third step on the podium, finishing alongside the leading duo with the same time. The competition showcased international youth cycling talent on the challenging African course.
Sánchez added his name to a growing list of Colombian athletes earning diplomas at the Dakar 2026 Games, according to olimpicocol.co. Emanuel Otálvaro in table tennis, Juan Esteban Garcés in skateboarding, Alejandro Gutiérrez in equestrian, and Nicolás Kokidko in swimming earned the nation’s other four diplomas.
Colombian cyclists return to competition on Tuesday, November 10, for the individual time trial events, olimpicocol.co reported. Both male and female competitors face an identical 8.5-kilometer course.
José Manuel Posada, representing the Team Sistecrédito, won the Vuelta Juvenil Sistecrédito 2026 on Sunday, defending his general classification lead throughout the final stages. Santiago Ruiz finished second overall, and Jhonatan Cruz took third place on the podium. Miguel Ángel Vanegas won the final stage in a tight finish.