COLOMBIAN HEROES

Colombian cycling may be enjoying a vintage period in the professional peloton, with more riders than ever, but the riders of today saw the path worn before them by many trailblazers

MARTÍN EMILIO RODRÍGUEZ

Career: 1961-1975

The original trailblazer, nicknamed ‘ Cochise’, was a track world champion and multiple winner of his home Tour. He went to Europe and became the first Colombian to ride the Tour in 1975.

SANTIAGO BOTERO

Career: 1998-2008

A bruiser in comparison to the birdlike climbers of Colombian stereotype, Botero excited fans with a run of Tour top 10s, a Tour KoM title and a World TT title. But his results dipped after 2002 and his career fizzled out in the late 2000s.

LUIS HERRERA

Career: 1985-1992

Herrera became the first Colombian to win a stage of the Tour, at Alpe d’Huez no less, in 1984, before adding a first grand tour title, at the Vuelta in 1987. Two victories in the polka dot jersey at the Tour were among a host of his wins.

NAIRO QUINTANA

Career: 2012- present

The spearhead of the new generation of Colombians, Quintana looked the most likely to take his country’s first yellow jersey. He won Giro and Vuelta titles, but has always come up just short in France, with two second places the high points.

FABIO PARRA

Career: 1985-1992

Herrera may have been more famous, but his contemporary Parra was the first Colombian to finish on the Tour podium, coming third in 1988. Also came within 0: 35 of winning the 1989 Vuelta, and achieved 10 GT top 10s in total.

EGAN BERNAL

Career: 2016- present

The first Colombian Tour winner came 44 years after his country’s first participation in the race. When he won yellow aged 22, Bernal became one of the youngest ever winners, the figurehead of a new generation.