Team Colombia-Coldeportes tried their best to defend the Colombian National road race title held by Miguel Angel Rubiano in the Antioquia region (Medellin-Llanogrande), but at the end of 188 km it was Robinson Chalapud (Orgullo Antioqueno) who landed the spoils in a restricted sprint, edging Daniel Jaramillo (Jamis) and Jeffry Romero (Boyaca).

Rubiano and his teammates worked intensely in the final 30km of a race that, in a moment, looked already decided, when with 15km to go Dayer Quintana (Movistar) dropped all his former fellow escapees from the 12-man action started just a few kilometres after the start. Instead, the peloton was able to enact a fierce comeback and shuffle the situation. Several attempts in the finale could not avoid the close sprint for the road race champion’s jersey.

With 150 metres to go, a crash involved several athletes, while six men were close battling for first: in the end it was Chalapud, from the local Antioquia’s team, to raise his arms, while Alex Cano (16th), making his debut in a Colombia-Coldeportes’ jersey, was the other team rider finishing in the top group, in spite of being held back by the crash involving, among others, Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

“I was hugely proud to wear this jersey over these months,” Miguel Angel Rubiano told, “as it also marked the first time the Tricolor reached Europe. In spite of our efforts, we could not bring it back to Italy with us: National Championships are always a tough race, so congratulations to the winner. With or without the title, we are now headed to Europe to honor the “Colombia” name and flag we have on our chest: it’s a long season, and it has just barely started.”