The Colombian Esteban Chavez (EF Education-Easypost) was proclaimed national road champion this Sunday by taking advantage of a withering attack launched 8 kilometers out of the 237 that the race had that put an end to the event held in Bucaramanga, in the northeast of the country.
The podium was completed Daniel Martinez (Ineos), silver medal, while Nairo Quintana the bronze was hung, all in the middle of a human river that encouraged the cyclists.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said chaves in some statements in which he recalled that his career has had difficult moments such as when an accident almost forced him to leave high-level competition cycling.
On February 16, 2013, in a stage of the Laigueglia Trophy, in Italy, when he was riding for the Colombia es Pasión team, Chaves lost control of his bicycle downhill and hit a traffic sign.
chaves33 years old, receives the tricolor shirt that he will wear this year in the races in which he participates and that he won last year Sergio Higuita (Bora).
THE RACE
In the first kilometers, those who tried to get away from the tight control of the lot were Fabio Duarte (Team Medellin-EPM), Brian Hernandez (Colombia Pact for Sport), German Chaves (credit system), Nestor Rueda (Cundinamarca League) and Diego Ochoa (EPM), but they were neutralized.
Later they came out Einer Rubio (Movistar), Sebastian Brown (Paisa Pride) and Esneider Baezbut they were also absorbed by the peloton.
In the absence of 20 kilometers they were outstanding Brandon Rivera and Daniel Martinez(Ineos), chaves (EF Education- EasyPost), Miguel Angel “Superman” Lopez (Team Medellin), Quintana, higuita and Didier Merchan (Shimano-Sidermec).
In this Sunday’s race, chaves He opened a gap in the last 8 kilometers and was able to raise his arms as a new champion. Behind, Martinez he defeated in the hand to hand to Quintanawho completed the podium of the day.
Martínez (left), Chaves (centers) and Quintana (right). Photo: EFE
This was the first race that Quintana contested this year. In 2022 he was disqualified from the Tour de France, where he placed sixth for violating medical regulations by using tramadol.
The Colombian climber appealed the decision imposed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) dismissed the appeal and has not been able to get equipment but the athlete has said that he is not retiring from the activity.
Source: Eitb
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