The Solution Tech NIPPO Rali team's campaign in Panama began with a bittersweet second-place finish. In the 142-kilometer Panama Grand Prix, the first of three engagements in Central America for the Italian team (racing on August 27 at the Gran Prix Chitre and two days later at the Clasica Azuero), Dusan Rajovic celebrated prematurely at the Monument La Bandera finish line, only to be naively overtaken on the line by Colombian Nicolas David Gomez of GW Erco SportFitness.

Behind them, the podium was completed by former Quick-Step and UAE Team Emirates rider Alvaro Hodeg (currently riding for Team Medellin, while Attilio Viviani finished in 4th place, ensuring that Serge Parsani's team left this inaugural .2 America Tour classic with a consolatory total of 53 UCI points that will undoubtedly prove useful to the Italian squad in their bid to finish the year in the top 30 of the team rankings.

FINAL RESULTS

1. Nicolas David Gomez (GW Erco SportFitness) 3:17:09

2. Dušan Rajović (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) s.t.

3. Álvaro José Hodeg (Team Medellin - EPM) s.t.

4. Attilio Viviani (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) s.t.

5. Bredio Ruiz (Senafront) s.t.

6. Douglas Nelson Parrado (Gran Fondo Panamá) s.t.

7. Alejandro Bladimir Pita (Esparza Training) s.t.

8. Gabriel Francisco Rojas (Manza Té La Selva No Varix) s.t.

9. David Esteban Hoyos (Nu Colombia) s.t.

10. Ben Granger (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) s.t.

Photo credit: FEPAC