After many years, the Colombian National Champion’s jersey will be back in the peloton at the Giro d’Italia, and will have a Team Colombia logo impressed on it: the credit goes to Miguel Angel Rubiano, who delivered his first Team Colombia win in Cartagena, outsprinting a 13-man group that had broken away around the halfway stage. Rubiano took a neat edge to the finish, ahead of Lampre-Merida’s Winner Anacona and former Team Colombia rider Juan Pablo Suarez (EPM-Une).

 

It is the ninth career win for 29-year-old Rubiano, who will enjoy his first stint in the Colombian National Champion jersey in career. Rubiano will showcase his brand new jersey for the first time in Europe at the Fleche Wallonne on April 23rd.

 

On the 156 km route – 10 laps of a pan-flat circuit – the winning action started at lap 6, when a 13-man group, including many of the favorites for the title, moved away, with the only Valle del Cauca team leading a hard chase behind. Everything came down to the reduced sprint, in which Rubiano had no real rivals to one of the most notable wins in his career.

 

“I feel happy and proud to bring this jersey back to Europe after a long time, and be able to show it in some of the biggest races in the World," Rubiano said afterwards. “I was confident in my chances, and I am sure this achievement will provide another boost to the whole team.

 

“In the first five laps there were riders attacking everywhere, and the peloton split due to the wind, but I always managed to race in the top positions. It was key today, as in races like this any move can be the right one, and I was sharp and lucky to work my way into the winning one.

 

"In the final kilometer, the road was slightly uphill until 500 metres to go, and then down until the line: I kicked early, gained a little margin and then pushed on in the descent until I raised my arms.”

 

“I wish to dedicate this win to my wife and my two daughters, who were here to support me, but above all to my mother – on her birthday!