Around 700 cyclists participated in the Pedaleamos Por Venezuela Caracas-Higuerote round

Published at: 31/08/2026 10:24 AM

Around 700 cyclists gathered at the Los Próceres Monoliths to star in the Ride Around Venezuela, on a 120-kilometer route with a final destination at the monument to the Virgin of Carmen, located in Higuerote, Miranda state, in support of families affected by the double earthquake of last June 24.

The day began at 6:30 in the morning with an emotional minute of silence in memory of the victims of the double earthquake of last June 24. Later, the participants took the Caracas-Higuerote route, in a demonstration of unity that brought together cyclists of different ages, categories and modalities, according to the press release of the Ministry of Popular Power for Sport.

The Sports Minister, Franklin Cardillo, accompanied the start of this initiative, in which he highlighted the diversity of participants who joined the cause. “We are here accompanying all these cyclists who practice this beautiful sport,” he said.

“In this starting line there is participation from all categories, we have national team athletes, elite cyclists who travel this Caracas-Higuerote route frequently and also cycling fans, and the best thing about this is that everyone comes together to ride for the rebirth of Venezuela,” he said.

Cardillo also highlighted the beneficial nature of the activity and the commitment of the sports community to affected families. “These more than 700 cyclists made their contributions to help many families, and everything collected with this movement will be delivered this Monday at a temporary camp in the state of La Guaira, where comrade governor José Alejandro Terán will receive us with his work team to distribute it to all campers,” he said.

“The response was immediate, we are a very supportive union and together we were able to unite and reactivate the cycling community to support all our Venezuelan brothers. We will continue pedaling for them,” said the director of Barlovento Sport, Daniel Abreu.

Among the participants was also the Olympic athlete Miguel Ubeto, who found special meaning in arriving at the monument of the Virgin of Carmen, a place linked to important moments in his sporting career.

“This monument of the Virgin of Carmen in Higuerote is special for me because it was my place of arrival when I was preparing for the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games in Toronto that I won, but today with greater motivation I am here, riding every ride for my brothers from La Guaira, because we don't forget them, we keep them in mind every day,” he said.

Ubeto emphasized that there is still a long way to go to accompany the recovery of affected communities. “There is still a lot of work to be done to rebuild every part and every wound,” he added.

For her part, Luz Marina Tamiche decided to face the challenge by accompanying her husband on a route that he usually takes frequently.

“The sweeper grabbed me, because at kilometer 70 I couldn't do it anymore, but I'm leaving with the conviction that we contribute our grain of sand for the country where I was born, grew up and where I joined in marriage,” he said.

From Caracas to Higuerote, high-performance athletes, elite cyclists, fans and young people pedaled to keep aid alive and contribute, through sports, to the rebirth of communities affected by the earthquake.

Mazo News Team