Costa Rica Opens Central American Road Cycling Championships in Guanacaste with Four Golds

Costa Rica Shines in Opening Time Trial

The Costa Rican National Road Cycling Team delivered a strong performance at the 2026 Central American Road Cycling Championships held in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. On the opening day of individual time trials, Costa Rican riders won four out of five events, emerging as one of the standout countries in the regional competition.

The championship brings together top cyclists from across Central America, including teams from Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, and others, competing for medals and regional ranking points.

Gold Medal Performances by Costa Rica

Highlights from the Costa Rican contingent include:

Fátima Elizondo, gold medalist in the women’s junior time trial with a time of 22:46.
Santiago Herrera, champion in the men’s junior category with a 34:14 finish.
José Pablo Sancho, winner of the men’s U-23 time trial, completing the course in 44:04.
Gloriana Quesada, first place in the elite women’s time trial in 36:40.

These results demonstrate the strength of Costa Rican cyclists in time trial disciplines and position the team well for the road race events later in the championship.

In the elite men’s time trial, Panama swept the podium, with Costa Rica’s top rider finishing fourth.

Event Progress and Upcoming Races

The 2026 Central American Road Cycling Championships run from April 9 to 12 across various roads in Guanacaste, featuring demanding courses and multiple race formats. Road races and further competitions will take place through the weekend.

Cyclists are also competing for qualification positions for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, making the event important for both medals and regional placement.

Significance for Costa Rican Cycling

Costa Rica’s strong start in the time trial events underscores the development and competitiveness of cycling in the country. With both young talents and seasoned athletes performing well, expectations are high for further success in the road races to come.

Sources Consulted

Delfino.cr, “Costa Rica abre con cuatro oros el Centroamericano de Ruta en Guanacaste”
La República, “Arranca el Campeonato Centroamericano de Ruta 2026 en Guanacaste”
La Nación, “Costa Rica da un golpe sobre la mesa en el Campeonato Centroamericano de Ciclismo de ruta”