Luciano Pagliarini has won the first stage of the Rutas de America, ahead of Argentinean Andres Maiztegui and Jorge Adelbo Soto Pereira of Uruguay. The section covered 158km around Montevideo, Uruguay. With the win, Pagliarini took over the leader's jersey.
The Brazilian spent nine years racing in Europe for Lampre, Liquigas, and Saunier-Duval (which became Scott-American Beef). In 2009 he signed for TelTech H2O, which ended up not receiving a license from the International Cycling Union (UCI). His 2009 was pretty much lost, although he raced some for the Brazilian national team.
He is now back with Scott - Marcondes Cesar - Sao Jose dos Campos, which has a professional continental license for 2010. Pagliarini raced the Tour de San Luis for the team already. In that Tour, the sprinter finished fourth in stage seven, behind Alberto Loddo, Danilo Napolitano and Francisco Jose Pacheco Torres - and ahead of Francesco Chicchi.
The Rutas de America runs until February 20 and finishes with a time trial from Durazno to Flores over 19 km.