After the first quarter of the year, the International Cycling Union (UCI) revealed in recent hours a new update of its ranking, which measures the best countries and runners in the world based on their results. This report presented important changes regarding the location of Colombian representatives abroad.
This first stage of the season has enjoyed several triumphs on the part of the 'Beetles'. At the cut of this Wednesday, March 30, Colombia appears as the fourth country with the most wins with 16. Ahead are Belgium (21), Holland (20), France (19) and Italy (16), which, in proportion, have a greater number of cyclists in the international squad.
Sergio Higuita and Nairo Quintana are two of the most active Colombian runners in recent weeks. Both Antioquia and Boyacense enjoy an outstanding present, and this was reflected in the most recent list, rising several boxes.
The 'Monster', as it is popularly known, celebrated in the three races in which it has been present, which is why it rose 67 positions in the UCI ranking. He is now 64th with a total of 940 points.
Higuita's first race was in the National Road Championship, which was held in Pereira, and in which he won the gold medal. The Antioquian cyclist repeated the feat achieved in 2020 after beating Yeison Rincón and Esteban Chaves, who finished second and third, respectively.
He then performed in the Vuelta al Algarve in mid-February, winning a victory in the fifth and final stage of the race. The team's BORA rider surpassed his compatriot, Daniel Felipe Martínez, in a sprint definition.
The most recent conquest is probably the most important in his sports career: the Vuelta a Catalunya. The Colombian came close to winning stage 6, but lost at the finish line to Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz. However, that same day he wore the leader's jersey and ended up taking the title, his first at the World Tour level.
“Superman is very strong and he is a man who prepares very well, Nairo is a runner who knows how to do the Tour very well, Daniel Martinez has also done 10 out of 10. Our cycling is a cycling that this year has been very good, last year was very difficult, but this year we are returning to competitions. It is a joy to see that our cycling is so strong,” said Higuita on Tuesday in an interview with 'El VBar' of Caracol Radio.
Born in Cómbita, Boyacá climbed seven positions, establishing himself as the second best Colombian today behind Egan Bernal (15th). The Arkéa Samsic rider is now positioned in square 26, accumulating 1,410 units.
Over the course of 2022, Nairo accumulated four wins. The first two celebrations took place at the Tour de la Provence, a French competition in which he won the third stage and the overall classification. And the last two triumphs also happened on French soil. The Alpes-Maritimes Tour had Quintana as the main protagonist, winning the third fraction, after an attack several kilometers from the finish line, and lifting the champion trophy.
The Boyacense harvest emulates what was achieved in 2020, when he made his debut in the ranks of Arkéa. At that time it was also consecrated in La Provence and in the Alpes-Maritimes.
The triumphs of Nairo, Higuita, Fernando Gaviria, Jonathan Restrepo, among others, allowed the country to climb one place in the ranks, led by Belgium with 1,4092.33 points. The 'Tricolor' is in ninth position, accumulating 7566 units and consolidating itself as the highest ranked nation in Latin America.
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