Vuelta a Colombia
Encyclopedia
The Vuelta a Colombia is an annual cycling
road race
, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia
and sometimes Venezuela
during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation
.
The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951. It was a 1,233 kilometers race which was divided in 10 stages which included three rest days. Thirty-five cyclists lined up for the race and of which thirty finished the race. The first champion of the Vuelta was Efraín Forero Triviño
who won seven stages of the race. 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. The 3rd edition of the race was the first edition to have 15 stages that covered 1,750 km. Over the years there has been severe 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. In 2005 there was a tragic accident in the Vuelta where Sports journalist of local radio station RCN Alberto Martinez Prader died while transmitting the race. Martinez was traveling in a jeep with José Fernando López and Hector Urrego when, descending from La Linea peak towards Calarcá
, the jeep lost control on a curve and fell into a ravine.
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 latest edition in 2010 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.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
road race
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and sometimes Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation
Colombian Cycling Federation
The Colombian Cycling Federation or FCC is the national governing body of cycle racing in Colombia.The FCC is a member of the UCI and COPACI.-External links:*...
.
The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951. It was a 1,233 kilometers race which was divided in 10 stages which included three rest days. Thirty-five cyclists lined up for the race and of which thirty finished the race. The first champion of the Vuelta was Efraín Forero Triviño
Efraín Forero Triviño
Efraín Forero Triviño is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist.Forero or El Zipa as he was known was involved in the organisation of the first Vuelta a Colombia. He was chosen to ride between the cities of Fresno and Manizales, via Páramo de Letras, as a preliminary race, and to define the route...
who won seven stages of the race. 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. The 3rd edition of the race was the first edition to have 15 stages that covered 1,750 km. Over the years there has been severe 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. In 2005 there was a tragic accident in the Vuelta where Sports journalist of local radio station RCN Alberto Martinez Prader died while transmitting the race. Martinez was traveling in a jeep with José Fernando López and Hector Urrego when, descending from La Linea peak towards Calarcá
Calarcá, Quindío
Calarcá is a municipality in the eastern part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 4 km east of the departmental capital Armenia...
, the jeep lost control on a curve and fell into a ravine.
It is currently a fifteen stage race that is regarded as one of the toughest races in cycling
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
. The mountain passes that the peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
encounters are hundreds of metres higher than any of the passes used in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
.
The latest edition in 2010 was won by Sergio Luis Henao
Sergio Luis Henao
Sergio Luis Henao Montoya is a Colombian racing cyclist from Rionegro. He was born in 1987, the same year that the most famous Colombian rider Lucho Herrera won the Vuelta a España....
of the Indeportes Antioquia-Idea-FLA-Lotería de Medellín Team ahead of teammate Óscar Sevilla
Oscar Sevilla
Óscar Miguel Sevilla Ribera , nicknamed El Niño, is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He is a climber with a pedigree in stage races, having finished in the top ten of the Tour de France and Vuelta a España several times...
and José Rujano
José Rujano
José Humberto Rujano Guillen is a Venezuelan professional road bicycle racer who is currently riding for UCI Professional Continental team ....
, the previous year's winner.