Severo Hernández, a legend of Santander cycling, passed away

The Santanderean cyclist Severo Hernández Tarazona, considered a legend of the region, died at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by fellow cyclist and now sports commentator, Victor Hugo Peña, who expressed his condolences through his social networks. 'El berraco de Guaca', as he was known, was the first athlete from Santander to participate in the Olympic Games.

“Don Severo Hernández Tarazona has just gone ahead on the road. A fraternal embrace to his family. The first Santanderean in an Olympic Games (1968) owner of an enviable palmares, pioneer of Santander cycling, great lord and best person. Q.E.P.D”, said Victor Hugo Peña through his social networks.

The Santander Departmental Institute of Recreation and Sports also demonstrated after the death of Severo Hernández was known. “We mourn the death of Guaca's illustrious son, Severo Hernández Tarazona. #GobiernoDelDeporte recognizes who was Pan American, Bolivarian champion and winner of several stages of the Vuelta Colombia and Mexico. Peace in his grave and solidarity to his family and friends”.

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According to the first versions, delivered by some relatives, and as confirmed by RCN Radio Bucaramanga, the cyclist and idol of cycling from Santander would have died due to natural causes, this was confirmed by some relatives of Severo Hernández Tarazona.

The Santanderean cyclist, whose name was chosen by his parents at the time of his birth, seeing the almanac that celebrated the dates of Severo and Saint Thomas on November 6, left a huge mark on the history of sports in Santander. In 2020, he suffered a robbery on his farm and lost some of his most prized bikes, as well as several of his trophies.

In 1948 he arrived in Bucaramanga after being displaced by violence. Over time he demonstrated his enormous capabilities for cycling, becoming part of many Colombian teams in the 1960s, whether for road or track competitions. Severo Hernández still holds the record for the Bucaramanga - Pamplona stage, with a time of 3 hours, 54 minutes and 26 seconds. He won two stages in the Vuelta a Colombia and was twice runner-up in the Vuelta al Táchira.

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He was one of the members of the track cycling team of the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, being the first Santanderean in a competition of this caliber. In that team he was with 'Cochise' Rodríguez, Jorge Hernández and Jaime Galeano. In addition, he was also present at the Bolivarian, Central American, Pan American and World Games. He reached nearly 60 achievements on the bicycle.

He won the last stage of the Vuelta de la Juventud in Mexico and when he arrived in the country he was greeted by a crowd of people who showed great affection and praised him for his efforts. At the prime of his career, he had only one goal, to win the Vuelta a Colombia, and yet an accident left him out of the competition. Severo Hernández is considered one of the best Santanderean cyclists of all time.

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