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 is currently held as a category 2.2 event on the UCI America Tour.

Vuelta a Colombia
2012 Vuelta a Colombia
Race details
DateAugust (until 2020)
June (since 2022)
RegionColombia
English nameTour of Colombia
Local name(s)Vuelta a Colombia (in Spanish)
DisciplineRoad race
CompetitionUCI America Tour
TypeStage race
OrganiserColombian Cycling Federation
Web sitewww.federacioncolombianadeciclismo.com/tag/vuelta-a-colombia/ Edit this at Wikidata
History
First edition1951 (1951)
Editions74 (as of 2024)
First winner Efraín Forero Triviño (COL)
Most wins Rafael Antonio Niño (COL) (6 wins)
Most recent Rodrigo Contreras (COL)

History

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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 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 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

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On 21 November, 2017, Róbinson López (Lotería de Boyacá), 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 Boyacá), Luis Camargo Flechas (Supergiros) and Óscar Soliz (Movistar Amateur Team) had all tested positive for CERA at the 2017 edition of the race.[11]

Past winners

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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
2021   Colombia José Tito Hernández Team Medellín
2022   Colombia Fabio Duarte Team Medellín–EPM
2023   Colombia Miguel Ángel López Team Medellín–EPM
2024   Colombia Rodrigo Contreras Nu Colombia

See also

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References

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  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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