Coldeportes Director and Colombian Sports Minister, Andres Botero Phillipsbourne has arrived in Spain, today, Thursday, September 10, and immediately came at the finish of stage 18 of the Vuelta a España, which saw the peloton travel from Roa to Riaza (204 km).

The victory went to Nicolas Roche (Team Sky), who got the better of Haimar Zubeldia (Trek Factory Racing), in a two-man sprint between the survivors of a breakaway which managed to get clear after 60 km. Third place went to José Gonçalves (Caja Rural), while Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) – despite several attacks on the last climb of the day – kept his three-second lead over Fabio Aru (Astana) in the overall classification.

Thursday’s escape got a green light from the pack only after 60 km rolled at a frantic pace, but unfortunately, in the front there was no rider from Team Colombia-Coldeportes:

“We’ve been very active in the first part,” Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi said. “Trying to go after all the attempts – but the peloton responded each time. Unfortunately, the bunch gave its permission to a breakaway in which we didn’t feature: it feels bad, but that’s cycling”.

The 25 cyclists at the front gained a maximum lead of six minutes, but in the last 40 km, the work of Astana – whose goal was to test Dumoulin – had dramatically reduced the advantage of the attackers, of which Roche and Zubeldia proved to be the strongest, getting clear on the ascent and then fighting for the victory, thus arriving with a 41-second gap on the favourites. Best placed Colombia-Coldeportes rider was Miguel Angel Rubiano, 37th, at 2:17.

At the finish, the boys were welcomed by the highest sports authority in Colombia, Andres Botero, who said:

“To line-up a 100% Colombian team at the Vuelta a España after so many years, as was also the case in the Giro d’Italia in recent seasons, marks an important milestone for this team and the whole project. The Colombians are making themselves noticed once again thanks to the talent and fighting spirit they display in this great race. I hope the team will get that stage victory it truly deserves. I’m convinced a Colombian will be on the podium in Madrid”.

Tomorrow, Friday, September 11, will see stage 19 of the Vuelta take place, Medina del Campo-Avila (185,8 km). With the general classification looking to be decided on Saturday, this stage can prove to be another important opportunity for a breakaway.