Even though there were more than two hours until the official presentation of the Tour of Colombia teams, Plaza Bolívar de Tunja, located at more than 2,780 meters above sea level in the department of Boyacá, was already full of people. Thousands of people took over the place, eager to admire the runners who will compete in the renowned race. The competition returns to the calendar for the first time since 2020, after being unable to take place due to the pandemic.
Highlights of the Tour of Colombia
The competition will take place from February 6th to 11th, with the participation of 24 teams, three of which are World Tour (Movistar, Astana and Education First), totaling 144 runners. The most acclaimed among them was Nairo Quintana, who arrived at the event surrounded by 6 security guards. Quintana, who also celebrated his 34th birthday during the event, was received with great enthusiasm by the population. According to Movistar, the cyclist is extremely happy with the return of the competition and showed his happiness during the presentation, greeting the press, fans and other riders.
Alejandro Valverde and other Highlights
In addition to Quintana, another runner who caught attention in the presentation was Alejandro Valverde, who took the podium alone. This is Valverde’s first time in the country and the runner was excited by the experience: “It’s my first time here… and what a shame I didn’t know this as a runner. It’s a pleasure, I’m enjoying the landscapes, the population,” he declared.
Other notable runners such as Rigoberto Urán, Egan Bernal, Chaves, Carapaz, Cavendish, and Gaviria also spoke to the audience. Egan Bernal, the only Colombian winner of the Tour and Giro, will compete representing the Colombian National Team, as the Ineos team will not participate in the event.
