Vuelta a Colombia

The Vuelta a Colombia (Spanish for Tour of Colombia) is an annual cycling road race, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia and sometimes Venezuela and Ecuador during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation,[1] and was previously included in the UCI America Tour.

Vuelta a Colombia
Race details
DateAugust
RegionColombia
English nameTour of Colombia
Local name(s)Vuelta a Colombia (in Spanish)
DisciplineRoad race
CompetitionColombian Cycling Federation
TypeStage race
Web sitewww.federacioncolombianadeciclismo.com/tag/vuelta-a-colombia/
History
First edition1951 (1951)
Editions70 (as of 2020)
First winner Efraín Forero Triviño (COL)
Most wins Rafael Antonio Niño (COL) (6 wins)
Most recent Diego Camargo (COL)

History

The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951 as an idea of Englishman Donald W. Raskin and a few of his friends, emulating the European Tour de France. It was a 1,233 kilometers race which was divided in 10 stages which included three rest days.[2] Thirty-five cyclists lined up for the race and of which thirty finished the race.[3] The first champion of the Vuelta was Efraín Forero Triviño who won seven stages of the race.[4] For the second edition, the race was increased in stages to 13 and was around 1,670 km in length. It was held from the 12 to the 27 or 28 January 1952. It appears that 60 cyclists lined up for the race.[5] The 3rd edition of the race was the first edition to have 15 stages that covered 1,750 km.[6]

Over the years, there has been several serious accidents and even deaths during the race. Some of these cyclists, who have had very serious and career-ending accidents, include Conrado "Tito" Gallo, Gilberto Achicanoy, Felipe Liñán and Ernesto Santander.[7] In 2005, there was a tragic accident in the Vuelta in which a local radio journalist, Alberto Martínez Prader, died while transmitting the race. Martinez was traveling in a jeep with José Fernando López and Héctor Urrego when, descending from the La Linea peak towards Calarcá, the vehicle lost control on a curve and fell into a ravine.[8]

It is currently a fifteen-stage race that is regarded as one of the toughest races in cycling. The mountain passes that the peloton encounters are hundreds of metres higher than any of the passes used in the Tour de France.

The 2010 edition was won by Sergio Luis Henao of the Indeportes Antioquia-Idea-FLA-Lotería de Medellín Team ahead of teammate Óscar Sevilla and José Rujano, the previous year's winner.[9]

Doping

On 21 November, Róbinson López (Loteria de Boyaca), current U23 Colombian champion, tested positive for the third generation blood booster - CERA.[10] A week later, news broke that Luis Alberto Largo (Sogamoso–Argos–Cooservicios–Idrs), Edward Díaz (EPM), Jonathan Felipe Paredes and Fabio Nelson Montenegro (Ebsa–Indeportes Boyaca), Luis Camargo Flechas (Supergiros) and Oscar Soliz (Movistar Amateur Team) had all tested positive for CERA at the 2017 edition of the race.[11]

Past winners

Year Country Rider Team
1951  Colombia Efraín Forero Triviño Planta de Soda de Zipaquirá-Cundinamarca
1952  France José Beyaert Automoto Valle
1953  Colombia Ramón Hoyos Coltejer-Antioquia A
1954  Colombia Ramón Hoyos Antioquia Fuerzas Armadas
1955  Colombia Ramón Hoyos Coltejer-Antioquia
1956  Colombia Ramón Hoyos Antioquia A
1957  Spain José Gómez del Moral Spain (national team)
1958  Colombia Ramón Hoyos
1959  Colombia Rubén Darío Gómez
1960  Colombia Hernán Medina Calderón Antioquia-Cervunión
1961  Colombia Rubén Darío Gómez Camisas Jarcano
1962  Colombia Roberto Buitrago
1963  Colombia Martín Emilio Rodríguez Antioquia Blue Bell-Wrangler
1964  Colombia Martín Emilio Rodríguez Antioquia A
1965  Colombia Javier Suárez Antioquia Suramericana
1966  Colombia Martín Emilio Rodríguez
1967  Colombia Martín Emilio Rodríguez Antioquia Wrangler-Caribú
1968  Colombia Pedro Julio Sánchez Telepostal
1969  Colombia Pablo Hernández Pierce Cundinamarca
1970  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Junta Administradora de Deportes-Cundinamarca
1971  Colombia Álvaro Pachón Singer
1972  Colombia Miguel Samacá Singer
1973  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Ferretería Reina
1974  Colombia Miguel Samacá Licorera de Cundinamarca
1975  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Banco Cafetero
1976  Colombia José Patrocinio Jiménez Banco Cafetero
1977  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Banco Cafetero
1978  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Benotto
1979  Colombia Alfonso Flórez Ortiz Freskola A
1980  Colombia Rafael Antonio Niño Droguería Yaneth
1981  Colombia Fabio Parra Lotería de Boyacá
1982  Colombia Cristóbal Pérez Lotería de Boyacá
1983  Colombia Alfonso Flórez Ortiz Varta-Colombia
1984  Colombia Luis Herrera Varta-Colombia
1985  Colombia Luis Herrera Varta-Café de Colombia
1986  Colombia Luis Herrera Café de Colombia-Varta
1987  Colombia Pablo Wilches Postóbon-Manzana
1988  Colombia Luis Herrera Café de Colombia
1989  Colombia Oliverio Rincón Castalia
1990  Colombia Gustavo Wilches Postóbon-Manzana-Ryalcao
1991  Colombia Álvaro Sierra Postóbon-Manzana
1992  Colombia Fabio Parra Amaya Seguros
1993  Colombia Carlos Jaramillo Aguardiente Antioquena
1994  Colombia Chepe González Postóbon-Manzana
1995  Colombia Chepe González Kelme-Pony Malta
1996  Colombia Miguel Ángel Sanabria Selle Italia-Gaseosas Glacial-Magniflex
1997  Colombia José Castelblanco Telecom-Capitel-Kelme
1998  Colombia José Castelblanco Avianca-Telecom-Kelme
1999  Colombia Carlos Alberto Contreras Kelme-Costa Blanca
2000  Colombia Héctor Palacio 05-Orbitel
2001  Colombia Hernán Buenahora Selle Italia Baterías MAC
2002  Colombia José Castelblanco Colombia Selle Italia Alc.Cabimas
2003  Colombia Libardo Niño Lotería de Boyacá
2004  Colombia José Castelblanco Orbitel-05
2005  Colombia Libardo Niño Lotería de Boyacá-Coordinadora
2006  Colombia José Castelblanco Gobernación del Zulia-ALC Cabimas
2007  Colombia Santiago Botero UNE-Orbitel
2008  Colombia Giovanny Báez EPM-UNE
2009  Venezuela José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia
2010  Colombia Sergio Henao Indeportes Antioquia-Idea-FLA-Lotería de Medellín
2011  Colombia Félix Cárdenas GW Shimano
2012  Colombia Félix Cárdenas GW Shimano
2013  Spain Óscar Sevilla EPM–UNE
2014  Spain Óscar Sevilla EPM–UNE–Área Metropolitana
2015  Spain Óscar Sevilla EPM–UNE–Área Metropolitana
2016  Colombia Mauricio Ortega Supergiros-Gane-Redetrans
2017  Colombia Aristóbulo Cala Bicicletas Strongman
2018  Ecuador Jonathan Caicedo Medellín
2019  Colombia Fabio Duarte Medellín
2020  Colombia Diego Camargo Colombia Tierra de Atletas–GW Bicicletas

See also

References

  1. "Federacion Colombiana de Ciclismo" (in Spanish). Ciclismode colombia. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  2. "History of the Vuelta a Colombia". Compania Nacional de Chocolates. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  3. "1a Vuelta a Colombia". Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  4. "Vuelta a Colombia Histoia 1951". Ciclismo de Colombia. Archived from the original on 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  5. "2a Vuelta a Colombia". Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  6. "3a Vuelta a Colombia 1953". Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  7. "Anecdotario de la Vuelta". Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  8. "Sports journalist dies in accident in Tour of Colombia". People's Daily online. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  9. "Henao wins Vuelta a Colombia". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  10. "Colombian U23 champion tests positive for CERA - Cyclingnews.com".
  11. "Eight riders test positive at Vuelta a Colombia - Cyclingnews.com".
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