Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana has won the 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, placing him as the overall leader just days after fellow countryman Rigoberto Uran became the first Colombian to do so, local media reported.
After beginning the day in 5th position, Quintana overtook 1st-placed Uran as overall leader at the end of the stage making it the first time that two different Colombians have possessed the pink jersey in the prestigious cycling race, Medellin-based newspaper El Colombiano reported.
MORE: Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran takes lead in Giro d’Italia
Uran – from the town of Urrao in the central state of Antioquia – had been the first Colombian rider to do so when he won the 12th stage last Thursday. Although Uran no longer leads the overall classification, he is 1 minute and 40 seconds ahead of the next rider in second place.
PROFILE: Rigoberto Uran
Quintana not only leads in the overall classification, but also in the young riders classification, overtaking Polish rider Rafal Majka in the 16th stage.
Colombian success at the 2014 Giro d’Italia
Other Colombians have found success in the 2014 Giro d’Italia, especially the mountains classification where four of the top six riders are Colombian. Julian Arredondo, – like Uran, from Antioquia – leads the mountains classification with fellow Colombian Robinson Chalapud in second place in the same category. Nairo Quintana sits in fifth place and Jarlinson Pantano follows right behind Quintana at sixth, following a tradition of success for Colombian cyclists in mountain stages of cycling competitions.
Colombian Sebastian Henao joins Quintana in the top 10 of the young riders classification at fifth place.
Quintana, from the town of Combita in the central Colombian state of Boyaca, gained worldwide fame for winning the Young Riders Classification and the Mountains classification in the 2013 Tour de France.
MORE: Nairo Quintana’s rise from poor peasant’s son to Colombia’s cycling hero
The 16th stage of the race is a mountain stage between the towns of Ponte di Legno and Martello in northern Italy. The Giro d’Italia began with three stages between in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Dublin in Ireland between May 9 and 11.
The race is set to conclude after the 21st stage in Trieste, Italy on June 1.
Sources
- Nairo Quintana asumió el liderato del Giro de Italia (El Colombiano)
- Giro d’Italia 2014 (Giro d’Italia Official Website)