February 25, 2012 (Santiago, Dominican Republic) – After a week of hard work our efforts have finally paid off. Bruno Langlois, who has been conserved through the efforts of the team during the week, showing incredible aggressiveness in the race today. Taking advantage of his know-how and experience he created the break he needed to win the seventh stage of the Vuelta Independancia Nacional, the Circuito Area Monumental in Santiago.

The 117km urban circuit in the heart of Santiago was very technical and probably the hardest we’ve met so far. Each circuit (about 9km each) included a hairpin turn, a hill with a narrow lead-in and a steep descent that led to another hill into the final, all with high winds.

Survival today was extremely painful and the pack quickly disintegrated into several groups. I found myself in one of the groups who followed the leaders. As time passed the guys in our group were getting exhausted by the pace of the lead group that had all the favourites.

The pace of the race was tough when Bruno lead an attack that finally caught our group. Being “lapped” by the leader who is your teammate is good for morale – we all knew at that time that Bruno was gone for the win!

I’m still in the race and I survive!

Results (brief)

1. Bruno Langlois (Can) 1% For The Planet 2:37:17
2. Carlos Quispe (Ecu) Ecuador 0:06
3. Diego Milan (Esp) Aro & Pedal0:16
4. Jaime Vergara (Col) Epm-Une
5. Tanner Putt (USA) U23 US National Team
6. Eduar Beltran (Col) Epm-Une
7. Wendy Cruz (Dom) Ochoa-Finauto
8. Efren Ortega Rivera (Pur) Soacha
9. Robigzon Oyola (Col) Epm-Un
10. Stiven Calderon (Pur (Soacha

GC after Stage 7

1. Nelson I. Sanchez (Dom) La Vega-Com.Nal.Ener    22:25:52
2. Robigzon Oyola (Col) Epm-Une   1:25
3. Eduar Beltran (Col) Epm-Une    1:26
4. Isaac Bolivar (Col) Epm-Une    1:52
5. Rafael German (Dom) Club Arco Iris    2:02
6. Diego Milan (Esp) Aro & Pedal   2:30
7. Efren Ortega (Pur) Soacha    2:42
8. Bruno Langlois (Can) 1% for the Planet    3:30
9. Coulton Hartich (USA) Firefighters R.T.    3:37
10. Wendy Cruz (Dom) Ochoa Finauto    3:41

53. Gavriel Epstein (Can) 1% for the Planet    49:58
62. Etienne Samson (Can) 1% for the Planet    1:03:40