As he had predicted at the end of the Camagüey-Ciego de Ávila stage, where he was victorious and climbed to the top of the individual general classification of the first bike tour to the central region of the country, the leader of the general classification, Pedro Portuondo, took the grueling stage between Ciego de Ávila and Topes de Collantes (168 km).

The winner's time was 4:26:09 hours and he was escorted by Enrique Alpízar and Ricardo Delgado, both from the main Cuban squad.

"I will go out to defend with my nails the condition of leader in the next leg, starting in the city of Ciego de Ávila and arriving in Topes de Collantes," he had declared to this press outlet, after having won the leader's jersey in the 106 kilometers that separate Camagüey from Ciego de Ávila.

This morning, shortly before the start, Granma exchanged with the 38-year-old veteran from Santiago de Cuba and the answer was the same: "I am going to defend my position as leader even with my nails, my legs and my heart, I do not lack," he repeated while listening to music on one of the benches in the José Martí Park.

In the first Flying Finish Line, at kilometer 42, in Jatibonico, the first three places were occupied by Roger Rodríguez (PRI), Ricardo Cardoso (Cuba B) and Alfreangel Favelo (PRI), respectively.

Ricardo Cardoso, Róger Rodríguez and Yamail Lorenzo (GTM), in that order, crossed the Sancti Spíritus road, at kilometer 72.

Yerandi Ali (VCL) passed by on the line of the last midfielder, in Trinidad, kilometer 148, with Favelo and Lorenzo at the wheel. It was when the scene was set for the "combat" in the heights, with the appearance of the leader Portuondo, who showed excellent physical shape and conquered Topes de Collantes, 800 meters above sea level, after having first passed through the Mirador , mountain prize at kilometer 163, where neither Ricardo Delgado nor Enrique Alpízar could break the leader, who increased his advantage in first place in the individual general classification.