Venezuelan cyclist Hussein Monsalve won the 6th stage of the Vuelta Ciclística Independencia Nacional, a major cycling event in the Caribbean. He finished first on the 160 kms. Santiago-La Cumbre-Puerto Plata-Imbert-Navarrete-Mao distance. On Saturday, Wendy Cruz won the 7th stage circling the Monumento a los Héroes in Santiago. On Sunday, Gustavo Carrillo, of the Asociación de Nueva York, won the last round. 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. International teams came 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 participated, for more than 200 cyclists. Venezuela won the team trophy, followed by Mauricio Báez (Dom) and Montecarlo (Dom). The race schedule was 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) Winner: Hussein Monsalve (Ven) Saturday, 26 February: 9:30 am. Closed circuit Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración in Santiago (120 kms). Winner: Wendy Cruz Sunday, 27 February: 9:30 am. Santiago- Bonao-Villa Altagracia-Santo Domingo (158 kms.) Winner: Gustavo Carrillo (Asociación de NY) Teams: Venezuela 76:42:41 Mauricio Báez-Dom 76:50:35 Montecarlo-Dom 77:01.52 Bolivia 77:22.12 Jaimis Columbus-Miami 77:22.47 General classification after stage 7b: Alexis Mendez (Ven) 25:50.11 José Ibañez (Bol) 25:51.19 Julio Rangel (Col) 25:51.22 Chris Frederick (Miami) 25:52.30 Manuel Medina (Ven) 25:52:57 Sprints: Chris Frederick (Miami) 27 Romanosky Medina (Pinturas Popular-Dom) 19 Carlos de León (Alico-Dom)16 Abraham Emile (Asoduci-NY) 16 Milton Ramos (Honduras) 13 Points: Wendy Cruz (Alico-Dom) 33 Alexis Mendez (Ven) 29 Hussein Monsalve (Ven) 27 Steven Mluyeak (Miami) 22 Donny Lopez (NY-Dom) 18 Mountains: Alexis Mendez (Ven) 37 Hussein Monsalve (Ven) 26 José Ibáñez (Bolivia) 24 Julio Rangel (Colombia) 18 Guillermo Chaparro (Honduras) 11
