The fifth edition of the Bantrab 2026 Cycling Tour started this Tuesday from Lake Amatitlán with 96 riders from 16 teams willing to compete in five stages and 666.9 kilometers, but the start of the event was overshadowed by a massive fall in the first kilometers of the first stage. The incident was caused by a motorcyclist who did not comply with safety instructions and crossed in front of the peloton, generating a chain accident that involved numerous cyclists and media motorcycles.
Several competitors were injured and had to withdraw from the race, while others were immediately taken to medical attention. The most worrying case is that of the Quetzaltecan cyclist Carlos Hacejón, who was the most affected in the fall that occurred approximately at kilometer 41 and was rushed to receive medical attention.
The race was neutralized while authorities evaluated the magnitude of the incident and the condition of the affected runners. The cyclists who managed to continue stopped as a sign of solidarity with their fallen companions, waiting for instructions from the race commissioner about the continuity of the event.