The United States' Lauren Stephens claimed a dominant victory in the women's road race as cycling concluded at Santiago 2023 ©Getty Images

The United States' Lauren Stephens powered home to a dominant victory in the women's cycling road race at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, while Ecuador's Jhonatan Narváez prevailed in a sprint finish in the men's.

Road races used a 17.5 kilometres circuit starting and finishing at the Plaza de la Aviación in the Providencia province of Santiago, each lap featuring a 183 metres climb through Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, the largest urban park in Latin America.

The women's race was cut from seven laps to six for a 105km race because of morning rain, while the men's featured nine laps covering 157.5km.

Stephens finished strongly to pull clear of her rivals on the final lap and win the women's race by 84 seconds, clocking 2 hours 51 min 5sec.

Although Santiago 2023 did not serve as a qualifying event, 36-year-old Stephens is targeting a first appearance at the Olympic Games next year in Paris.

"I’ve been riding for 15 years, and I’m near the end of my career, but I’m still racing, certainly for another year to try to make it to the Olympics and show the United States that I’m capable of winning this race," she said.

"I know that what I did today shows me that I’m making the right decision to stay for another year."

Ecuador's Miryam Núñez took second in 2:52:29, the same time as Paraguay's Agua Marina Espínola in third.

Ecuador's Jhonatan Narváez triumphed in a sprint finish to the men's cycling road race ©Getty Images
Ecuador's Jhonatan Narváez triumphed in a sprint finish to the men's cycling road race ©Getty Images

The men's race was held in windy conditions, and eight of the 44 riders were forced to abandon in a race that marked the end of the cycling programme at Santiago 2023.

The 26-year-old Narváez, who rides for International Cycling Union World Tour team Ineos Grenadiers, held his nerve to triumph in 3:37:56, beating Argentina's Eduardo Sepúlveda and Uruguay's Eric Fagúndez by one second in a photo finish.

Chilean home favourite Martín Vidaurre had to settle for fourth in the sprint, with Brazil's Nícolas Sessler fifth and Venezuela's Orluis Aular sixth.

Olympic champion Richard Carapaz of Ecuador, winner of a time trial silver medal last Sunday (October 22), placed seventh at six seconds off the pace.

Colombia finished top of the overall medals table in cycling.

They won a total of 14 medals, including six gold.

Canada finished second with seven medals, five of them gold.

Mexico were third with 10 medals, of which three were gold.