Team Colombia were rewarded for managing to keep their motivation and concentration high until the very last race of the season as Leonardo Duque delivered an amazing win at GP Beghelli in Italy on Sunday, the final day of 2013 season for the Escarabajos.

After the day’s break had been reeled in the final kilometres, Carlos Julian Quintero led up Duque until 600 metres to go, when the experienced rider from Calì unleashed a superb acceleration, getting solo to the finish ahead of Lampre’s Manuele Mori and Elia Favilli. That’s the second win of the season for Leonardo Duque after Tour de l’Ain stage 1, and the 10th in his career.

“The team was amazing today – the winner said – working as a unit to clinch the year with a great result, and I think this win will help all of us to restart with greater enthusiasm as soon as we start building up for the new season. Team Colombia and Claudio Corti showed me confidence, both as a team player and as a protected rider, and I am happy I have been able to contribute with two nice wins,” Duque said according to the Colombia website.

Satisfaction was also easily heard in Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi’s words: “It was a perfect race, finished by Leo with an outstanding action. We have been racing for him all the way today, and he surprised everyone with a move at 600 metres to go, immediately opening a decisive gap. To do something like that in the final race of the season you need to be more than talented and physically gifted: you need planning, concentration and commitment. You need to be a real professional, like Leonardo showed through the whole year. He was a key piece of our team, and he will be in 2014 too.”