Rafael Díaz (Montecarlo-Dom) won the fifth stage of the Vuelta Ciclística Independencia Nacional, a major cycling event in the Caribbean. He clocked in at 4:04.43 for the La Vega-Bonao-Piedra Blanca-Cotuí-Pimentel-San Francisco de Macorís (150 kms) distance. He was followed by Nieves Carrasco (Alico-Dom) and Donny López (Asoduci-NY). The race continues today with competitors pedaling North. The trek will be Santiago-La Cumbre-Puerto Plata-Imbert-Navarrete-Mao (160 kms) The grueling competition is taking cyclists through most of the DR (1,145.4 kilometers) from 20-27 February. It is an officially sanctioned International Cycling Union race. For web site international coverage on this event, see www.cyclingnews.com or the International Cycling Union site at www.uci.ch International teams have come from St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, Honduras and several US states (New York, Florida, Illinois and Texas). Fourteen DR-based teams are also participating, for more than 200 cyclists. The race schedule is as follows: Sunday, 20 February: 11 am. Closed circuit around Mirador del Sur Park (144 kms). Winner: Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom) Monday, 21 February: 10 am. Santo Domingo-Boca Chica-San Pedro de Macorís-La Romana (116 kms). Point of departure: Ministry of the Armed Forces-Plaza de la Bandera. Winner: Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom) Tuesday, 22 February: 9:30 am. La Romana-San Pedro de Macorís-Santo Domingo (120 kms). Point of departure: Parque Duarte in La Romana. Winner: Chris Frederick (Miami) Wednesday, 23 February: 9:30 am. Santo Domingo-Bonao (89 kms). Winner: Abraham Emile (Asoduci-NY). 3 pm. La Vega-Santo Cerro-Jarabacoa (75 kms). Winner: Alexis Mendez (Ven) Thursday, 24 February: 9:30 am. La Vega-Bonao-Piedra Blanca-Cotuí-Pimentel-San Francisco de Macorís (150 kms). Winner: Rafael Díaz (Montecarlo-Dom) Friday, 25 February: 9:30 am. Santiago-La Cumbre-Puerto Plata-Imbert-Navarrete-Mao (160 kms) Saturday, 26 February: 9:30 am. Closed circuit Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración in Santiago (120 kms). Sunday, 27 February: 9:30 am. Santiago- Bonao-Villa Altagracia-Santo Domingo (158 kms.)
