On Wednesday February 18th, Team Colombia-Coldeportes will take part in the Vuelta a Andalucia-Ruta del Sol, the first Spanish stop of a season which will revolve around many races from the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, the Escarabajos will be busy at the Volta a Catalunya in March, hoping to be at the start of the Vuelta a Espana later in the year.

Miguel Angel Rubiano – making his European debut this season – will be part of Claudio Corti’s team line-up for the Vuelta a Andalucia: “I look forward to take part in my first race in Europe after riding the Tour de San Luis. In the race there will be top riders, such as Froome and Contador, but also our team is very strong: with Rodolfo Torres and Alex Cano we are aiming to be protagonists in the two uphill finishes."

The 2014 season of the 30-year-old from Bogotà – now in his second year in the Colombia-Coldeportes jersey – was characterized by the success he has had at the Colombian National Championships: “It was a fantastic year, unrepeatable”, Rubiano said. – “I wore the Colombian National Champion jersey, it was a great pride for me, especially in this era of the Colombian movement, one of the best in our cycling history. In Europe we have so many fans, I lived three unforgettable weeks at Giro d’Italia, where I heard the chorus singing ‘Colombia, Colombia!’ at the sight of my jersey. Despite some unfortunate episodes, I have tried to honour the jersey and I think I have succeeded”.

Sunday February 8th, in the Antioquia region, Rubiano tried his best to defend the Colombian National road title, claiming the sixth place in the final sprint: “I’m not disappointed, the opponents were very strong and we have been in the mix until the finish line”, Rubiano explained. – “The opportunities for revenge will not wane, as there will be plenty of races suited to my characteristics: in the first part of the season I will do Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, and the Volta a Catalunya. I want to focus on my preparation to be in the mix there”.

Despite the fact that he can no longer wear the National Champion jersey, Rubiano will ride with the Colombian “Tricolor” on the chest thanks to the design of the 2015 Team Colombia-Coldeportes jersey: “There is nothing better than to ride with the team of my country”, he concluded – “I always rode in foreign teams, the adaptation was not easy but now I can say I found a second family”.