Francisco Kotsakis wins opening stage of Volta de Santa Catarina

Chilean cyclist Francisco Kotsakis, representing Plus Performance Zeo Sport, won the opening stage of the Volta de Santa Catarina 2026. The stage spanned from Pomerode to Ascurra, covering approximately 117 to 126 kilometers depending on the route measurement.

Kotsakis secured the victory in a sprint finish after his team neutralized a breakaway attempt by Brazilian rider Bruno Lemes. The Plus Performance Zeo Sport team dominated the podium, with Cristobal Baeza taking second place and Tomas Quiroz finishing third. The race was characterized by challenging terrain, including cobblestones and dirt roads, as well as high temperatures reaching 27°C.

As the stage winner, Kotsakis has assumed the overall leadership and the yellow jersey. Among the Brazilian competitors, Pedro Freitas of the Taubaté Cycling Team/Tarumã finished fourth, placing him in contention for the white jersey awarded to the best young rider.