The fight of the cyclists of Colombia to produce champions
Colombians are triumphing in cycling, a field previously dominated by Europeans. The star of the moment is Nairo Quintana, who won the Vuelta a España last year and in 2014 the Giro d'Italia. He also finished second in the Tour de France twice. According to The New York Times, Quintana is challenging officials who moderate cycling in their country. The athlete accuses them of bureaucratic inefficiency, does not support the young talent and have a frivolous attitude about the doping controls of athletes.
According to him, if these mechanisms improve, Colombia could give even more champions. "There is a lot of talent in Colombia and there could be another phenomenon of cycling tomorrow," said the 27-year-old cyclist during a press conference in Bogota in April. "But this is not due to the support of our sports officials."
Winner Anacona, another Colombian cyclist, responded to the congratulations of the president of his country Juan Manuel Santos after winning the Tour de France last year with the following message on Twitter: "@JuanManSantos @NairoQuinCo @jarlinsonpantan we will return because we have done SOLOS in this Beautiful and hard sport with the help of few ". Sports officials in Colombia disagree with the criticism.
According to Jorge Ovidio González, the president of the Colombian Cycling Federation, these cyclists "have not done it alone". Quintana seems to be a favorite for the Tour de France this year just like Chris Froome, who has already won three times. At a recent press conference in Bogotá,
Quintana made clear who he believes deserves credit for the triumphs. "The five or six cyclists that we are in the international peloton are filled with pride, we put our nation among the best in the world, but we do not understand when others put the medals because they say they are the best, but then we see The reality, "he said.
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