BOGOTA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Teams from 19 nations will begin competing in the Under-20 Pan-American Cycling Championship, whichruns until Monday in Duitama, a city in the Colombian department of Boyaca.

    Some 200 cyclists, both men and women, have registered.

    Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina and Colombia are the favorites to lead the medals board.

    Last year when the event was held in Portuguesa, Venezuela, the host nation won 21 medals, 10 of them gold. Cuba followed with five gold and four silver medals; and Argentina was third with two gold medals.

    The men's contests are speed, 1km against the clock, Olympic speed, keirin, individual sprint, team sprint, scratch, the points test, the American and the omnium.

    Women have a speed contest, 500m against the clock, Olympic speed, keirin, individual sprint, scratch and points.

    The competing nations are Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay, Peru, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Paraguay, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica and Colombia.

    The organizer is the Pan-American Cycling Federation.