Starting today, Wednesday, Panamanian cyclists Franklin Archibold, Carlos Samudio, and Roberto González will compete in the Giro di Sardegna in Italy. Archibold, Samudio, and González are part of the Solution Tech Nippo Rali team for this 30th edition, alongside Swiss rider Alexandre Balmer, Belgian Kamiel Bonneu, Slovenian Tilen Finkst, and Serbian Dusan Rajovic. The three cyclists, who are leading figures of national cycling abroad, have the mission to test their strength against the international peloton's elite and to solidify Panama's prominence on European roads. This event, of UCI 2.1 category, marks a historic milestone for the national sport. The members of the Pro Team, based in Italy, will compete on the Rali Evolve bikes, a high-end machine designed for maximum competitive demands and born from Panamanian ingenuity. The event on the island of Sardinia is not just a high-level race; it represents a strategic opportunity to gain points in the world ranking for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and to elevate Panama's prestige before the World Tour powers that will gather on the island. This race was first held in 1958 and has had champions such as Eddy Merckx (4 times), Rik Van Looy (3 times), and in its most recent edition in 2011, Slovak Peter Sagan.
