the Columbian contingent in Giro

[weisan]

Okay, first I have to 'fessed up...that I didn't pay as much attention to this year's Giro, a bit boring if I dare say.

Anyhow...saw this picture over at pezcycling...I know there are more Columbian riders bursting into the scenes in recent years but wow,didn't quite expect that many participating at a grand tour all at once...well, obviously there's the whole Team Columbia that got invited to this year's Giro as a wild card but still, i could be wrong, this may seem like the largest representation ever in a grand tour in the history of that country...a new watermark if you will.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/giro14st21sp-11.jpg

[Louis]

I wonder what the road riding is like down there? I would think that there's lots of hard-core MTB stuff.

[DRietz]

It's actually Colombia (the country in South America), not Columbia (an alternate name for the United States), and they were at last year's Giro, too!

There have been plenty of noteworthy Colombian cyclists over the years, mostly climbers (since most of the Colombian population is in its western, mountainous regions), but a lot of them only existed within the Colombian Cycling Federation...mostly due to the enormous expense of racing internationally. I mean, if you saw Colombia-Coldeportes race at the Pro Cycling Challenge, they were trading aero helmets in the TT since they couldn't afford to outfit the whole team! And it's government sponsored!

Luckily for us, these guys are starting to strut their stuff on the international circuit - and damn is it cool to watch!

[Fiertetimestwo]

I have to strongly disagree that this year's Giro was boring.

The opening stages in Ireland were a bit dull, but that was mainly the weather.

The last two weeks of the race were full of fantastic racing- up the last couple of stages there was only seconds between about third and ninth on the GC.

The Gavia and the Stelvio in snow, a mountain time trial to Cima Grappa and then the Zoncolan- what's not to like?

[Black Dog]

The Colombians had a trade team in the 80's (cafe de colombia) as well as riders in other teams. It was not unusual for 11 or more Colombian's to to be riding in the grand tour in the 80's.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVRiPwM76SQ/T1zhwm1ncCI/AAAAAAAAHq8/bMFMxKUdyKE/s1600/16320869.jpg

[laupsi]

visit Colombia; you'll then understand there is a huge love of cycling w/many, many participants w/in the country.

[wallymann]

lucho herrera, fabio parra...ALLEZ ALLEZ!!!

The Colombians had a trade team in the 80's (cafe de colombia) as well as riders in other teams. It was not unusual for 11 or more Colombian's to to be riding in the grand tour in the 80's.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVRiPwM76SQ/T1zhwm1ncCI/AAAAAAAAHq8/bMFMxKUdyKE/s1600/16320869.jpg

[FlashUNC]

The Escarabajos are back. And it's totally awesome.

[bobswire]

One of my fav vintage jersey.

http://i57.tinypic.com/20r0f2w.jpg

[chengher87]

I have to strongly disagree that this year's Giro was boring.

The opening stages in Ireland were a bit dull, but that was mainly the weather.

The last two weeks of the race were full of fantastic racing- up the last couple of stages there was only seconds between about third and ninth on the GC.

The Gavia and the Stelvio in snow, a mountain time trial to Cima Grappa and then the Zoncolan- what's not to like?

I agree that the start in Ireland was a bit boring. All of the first week actually. Sprint stages coupled with medium mountain stages that weren't quite medium or moutainous felled the early part of the giro.

BUT, the rest of the Giro was pretty exciting racing, both in the actual outcome of individual stages and the GC battle. I literally go nothing done in the lab before 11:30AM for the last two weeks!

[rwsaunders]

Here's a good, related read for you...

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com

[campy man]

Started cycling and watching the Tour in mid 80s, seems like Columbia has produced plenty of exciting riders ... especially in the mountains.

Guess it depends on the definition of exciting. Taking chances in the mountains and breakaways is exciting racing to me. Following wheels in the mountain stages protecting a top 10 placing ... boring.

The last 2 weeks of this Giro was some of the best cycling I have seen in a stage race over the past few years. Lots of action in the mountains and the TTs were decent.

If it turns out everyone was clean it proves attacking in the mountains is possible.

Hoping the Tour is equally animated in the mountains this year.

[mhespenheide]

Drug-related violence notwithstanding, Colombia seems to have a pretty long tradition of cycling. Try these two articles to start:

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/09/proudly-standing-outside-ongoing.html

and

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/road-biking/Mountain-Grown.html
(Part of the Armstrong-era haze, but still a good read)

I think it would be an awesome destination to ride with some good local guides. If I was in shape enough...

Edit:
Holy Cow, http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/ has a number of awesome stories if you've got some time to disappear down the internet's rabbit holes...

[Waldo]

lucho herrera, fabio parra...ALLEZ ALLEZ!!!

Juan Valdez!

[e-RICHIE]

You can't mention Colombia's cycle sport and not cite Cochise Rodriguez atmo.
He may from the Eddy Merckx era but he still set the bar for all others after him.

ps

arrange disorder

:cool:;);)
;):cool::rolleyes:
;);):cool:

[Black Dog]

You can't mention Colombia's cycle sport and not cite Cochise Rodriguez atmo.
He may from the Eddy Merckx era but he still set the bar for all others after him.

ps

arrange disorder

:cool:;);)
;):cool::rolleyes:
;);):cool:

True. He paved the way for the 80's Colombian invasion.

[ultraman6970]

There;s a velodrome in colombia named after rodriguez. The 1st great super rider from colombia.

[chromopromo]

The last two week of the Giro were fantastic and it does seem like the Colombian's came out of no where. I was surprised at the depth of talent. Nairo Quintana was the favorite and no surprise. But Uran got second in the GC and two other Colombian's went one and two in Stage 18 with Arredondo getting the KOM jersey. It also seemed like there was a Colombian rider in every break. The Colombian team made the race a lot more fun to watch. US riders on the other hand had almost no presence in the race. Has Colombia stepped up its cycling program or is this just the natural ebb and flow of talent?

[ultraman6970]

Poor teams, the guys will try to show themselves as much as possible to get picked up by larger teams.

[oldpotatoe]

Poor teams, the guys will try to show themselves as much as possible to get picked up by larger teams.

Is Moviestar a 'poor' team.