Getting back to racing in a very competitive and demanding race like the Vuelta a Burgos is never easy, but Colombia-Coldeportes certainly handled the task well during the five days of the Spanish race that came to an end on August 8th with its queen stage, Comunera de Revenga – Lagunas de Neila (170 km). Rodolfo Torres looked constantly among the strongest on the last of seven climbs on the day, where the final selection was made, and was a solid 5th on the day, 25 seconds behind stage winner Daniel Moreno (Katusha).

Moreno attacked from a selected 8-man group with less than a kilometer to go, and while no one could hold his pace, he still had to settle for third in the overall, behind Astana’s Rein Taaramae and Michele Scarponi, respectively 2nd and 4th on the day. Completing the day’s podium was Ag2r-La Mondiale’s Pierre Roger Latour.

With his effort, Rodolfo Torres broke into the overall top 10, finishing 7th, 1.23 behind Taaramae,  but his performance was not the only one to stand out: Colombia-Coldeportes was overall fourth in the teams classification (and first among non-World Tour outfits) thanks to a strong and consistent display by the whole line-up, who once again confirmed their credentials as aggressive riders on the day.

In fact, after an extremely fast first hour (over 51 km/h average speed), three Escarabajos finally proved strongest than the bunch’s chasers in bringing away a breakaway attempt: it was Juan Pablo Valencia, Brayan Ramirez and Fabio Duarte, who escaped along with nine more riders and opened up to a 4-minute gap.

Their intent was clear: sealing the eight overall success of the season in the mountain classification  with Fabio Duarte, and they seamlessly delivered, as the former Under 23 World Champion could celebrate on the podium the red jersey he has been wearing since day 1. Duarte was also the last rider to surrender to the bunch, after attacking from the breakaway on the first passage on the Alto del Collado, and leading solo until 15 km to go.

Attacks by Movistar’s Marc Soler and Winner Anacona on the last climb could not ultimately stick, and the leading group got more and more reduced until the final move by Moreno.

Sports Director Oscar Pellicioli certainly looked satisfied with the team’s effort:

“We wanted that jersey, we were super motivated to bring another one at home and our guys did a very good job in achieving the goal. Duarte, Valencia and Ramirez deserved praise for what they did today, as well as Rodolfo, the only non-World Tour rider in this prestigious race’s top-10. It needs to be noted that riders like Taaramae and Scarponi came here in top condition after the Tour de France: to be battling with them at this point, with two weeks to the Vuelta, is certainly a good indication. The teams’ fourth place also rewards the performance of riders like Rubiano and Quintero, who were in the 20-man leading group until the beginning of the final climb.”

“Now it is up to us to make difficult decisions on who will get the chance to race the Vuelta a Espana. This race and Tour of Utah were the final tests, and now I am even more confident we will be ready to race a good Vuelta a Espana where the race gets underway in Puerto Banus on August 22nd.”