The 59th Vuelta a Colombia - Final Thoughts & Photos
Final thoughts on the victory of José Rujano of Venezuela -  the first non Columbian  to win the race in 52 years of the tough Andes challenge. A last look at the race and the fans and "Pasion" for cycling they show for their national tour...

Vuelta a Columbia final podium: José Rujano, Freddy Montaña and César Salazar
Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

The 59th Vuelta a Colombia has finished with an outcome no one seemed to be prepared for. After a prologue and 14 stages there are no reasonable doubts about the outcome, despite however unexpected. It was with some understandable trepidation that the160 athletes accepted the challenge for one more edition of the Andes; the most difficult stage race in America, and perhaps the hardest Mountain contest in the world.

Looking at our preview comments, there was that cliché of showing how impressive the riding in Colombia is through that old mirror that looked back into the 1950's era when a couple of Europeans took home the taste of victory from the Andes in their luggage. Those statistics had always been shown as a shield, an intimidating remark every one needed to be told when talking about the invincible 'escarabajos' of the Vuelta a Colombia.

From his bike to the shoulders of the fans, Jose Rujano winner of the 59th edition of the Vuelta a Columbia. Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

Foreign teams, UCI-Pro, and national squads, such Cuba and other nations, have always been compelled to attend the Vuelta and other important cycling events of Colombia's calendar. They are always welcome to a country that breathes cycling deeply. However as long as there are mountains on the parcours they are usually not considered to be a threat to local squads, at least not for the Vuelta where the big Hors Category climbs are always on the menu.

So there might still be some tricky explanations as to why Spain's José Gomez Del Moral (1957) and France's José Beyaert (1952) won those titles back when the Vuelta was young. It has been put in the shadowy forgotten pages of Colombian cycling; the 'anecdotal' victory of Andy Hampsten who beat locals in the 'Gran Premio Yardley Gold de Montaña' which happened to have the hors category La Linea, Letras and Minas.

The memory is not so far removed when Colombian riders and fans would proudly make references to the fact that some of the best pro-elite cycling teams have unsuccessfully participated in the Vuelta and The Clásico RCN with the very goal of winning. Just to name some Laurent Fignon, Greg Lemond, Bernard Hinault, Pedro Delgado, Sean Kelly, and Claudio Chiapucci, all winners of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

Bernard Hinault, for instance who by that time had already joined Patrocinio Jiménez and Greg Lemond as winner of the Coors Classic. But the mountains he found in Colombia were far harder, longer and more breathtaking than the North America's race offered him. His 'only' success, a Time Trial stage that closed the Vuelta a Colombia was not enough to encourage European pro-elite teams to include Colombia in the calendar as much as they probably wanted.

There are also many marketing and UCI regulation issues that make it difficult for the big teams to attend races in America at cost of losing either the 'right' or the invitation to get into the Tour, Giro and Spanish Vuelta. Not to mention the early races Asians have managed to smuggle in.

Rujano and Salazar enjoy Venezuela's National Anthem.
Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

Also can teams in today's Peloton ask riders to race 200 days during the year as Merckx, Hinault and other big champions once did? And demand, or better expect them to go with a winning attitude? It seems like a dream doesn't it? Both riders -and teams- have become too specialized, such as Amstrong, Sastre, Contador and many others for who that pre-historic way of riding is not an option. In today's selective riding who would like to come and test their legs in the equivalent of a Tour of France? We just witnessed what happened to Felix the Cat Cardenas, who barely made it half way through the first week in this Vuelta after his participation in the Giro d'Italia.

Still, for those interested in a little bite of cycling glory, as far as the stage races in Colombia, there might be a formula Sevilla and Rujano seemed to have found. Just like an alchemist who discovered gold by accidentally stirring up the 'wrong' ingredients in a bowl. The first two I would rather not say, but I must: Get dropped by  a UCI-ProTour team and  stay away from the big three races at least a year. To complete the recipe add two months of training in the Andes, get a ton of oxygen in the Colombian factories at 3,000 meters above sea level and higher; add two spoons of determination, forget about the past. Mix it all until it becomes a trophy. Take it home!!

fan shows his admiration to Rujano, for as long as he has lived no one had beaten locals in the Vuelta. Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

As for José Humberto Rujano Guillén, I've nothing more to say... only this remains, he really deserved this victory. He is so young (27) and well composed he should be able to give it a try in the ProTour again. He is much more clever than the Rujano we saw missing a big chance to win the 2005 Giro d'Italia with the Colombia/Selle-Italia squad.

Back then neither Gianni Savio nor the same Rujano would think he was good enough to win the 2005 Giro. A judgment that gave Colombian Ivan Parra free will to go for the partial wins at stage 13 starting in Mezzcorona and stage 14 over the Stelvio and Passo di Foscagno, leaving behind among others the very José Rujano in two consecutive days of glory for the Colombian. Afterwards he was physically worn out for the rest of the race after being in solo break for more than 200 Km. Rujano was also collecting points for the KOM, which he easily won.

A small part of the crowds in Simon Bolivar square showing that COLOMBIA ES PASION for cycling!  Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

The fact is that by collecting KOM points the then unknown 23 year old Rujano in the Sastriere stage left him as close as 17 seconds on Gilberto Simoni and 45 seconds to Paolo Savoldelli in the General Classification. But It was too late to re-plan the race targeting the Magalia Rosa. Ivan Parra legs were gone that day and Rujano had no one challenging him for the King Of the Mountains- Jersey. The first maglia vert that a Venezuelan would claim at the Giro.

In the end going for the 'little' prizes gave Colombia/Selle-Italia what they seemed to be looking for: three Stages and the KOM Jersey. There is also that sour taste in American’s mouths of seeing  the way Colombian Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Davitamon-Lotto) picked up Italian Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) and drove him through ‘Colle delle Finestre’ and ‘Sestriere’, as if he was his leader, giving him a lung that day no other rider would have. I am still asking myself why?

Anywise, the Rujano we had this year in Colombia was a 'grown up' rider. Far from thinking in the partial wins he knew what he was capable of and with the exception of the stage in La Linea where he managed a little crisis, he attacked not for stage wins, not the KOM points, not a specific rider but the CLOCK.

The fans carry their champion where he wants to go, after the podium ceremonies.
Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

He also knew when and how to take advantage of the local teams rivalries, mostly Boyaca and Colombia es Pasion-Cafe de Colombia. The partial victories and the very KOM Jersey came as a result of his mission of collecting time for the general classification. In that way they were overshadowed by his general victory, but isn't that the point? Thinking big gave him big results.

After 52 years of "Cycling Titan's" attempts, he has become the first non-Colombian Vuelta a Colombia Champion. Congratulations to him and the Venezuelan teams Gobernacion del Zulia and Loteria del Tachira for the great success in their participation.

What comes next for the 'Patriot'? what if he is recruited again for a ProTour Team? Then Europe and all around the world rivals and fans in general would have to share General Palomino's concern. In his words to the 1.52 meter Champion:

"General Rujano What are we going to do with you, when you grow up"?

Highway Patrol officer Palomino hands Rujano a Souvenir just in case he decides to switch to Soccer. Photo © 2009 Revista Mundo Ciclistico.com

Best regards,
It has been my pleasure
Fabián Castro

59th Vuelta a Columbia
General Final Classification 
1,882 km (1,175 miles) - 43:37:55
1 RUJANO Jose  Gubernacion del Zulia  43:37:55
2 MONTA¥A Freddy Boyaca es Para Vivirlas 5:25
3, SALAZAR Cesar   Loteria Del Tachira 8:49
4 ORTEGA Mauricio   UNE-EPM 9:35
5  LAVERDE Luis Felipe Columbia es Passion Cafe   13:17
6  PARRA Edwin  Boyaca es Para Vivirlas 13:29
7,  GONZALEZ Javier Loteria de Boyaca 15:27
8  BAEZ Giovanny   UNE-EPM 17:29
9  COLORADO Francisco GWShimano 17:43
10  CAMARGO Fernando  Loteria de Boyaca   22:01
11  SEVILLA Oscar Rock Racing  23:44
12  SARMIENTO Ismael","TUN  25:16
13  PARRA Ivan   Loteria de Boyaca    29:34
14  CASTELBLANCO Jose Nectar Coldesportes/Cundemarc33:33
15  Pena, Victor Hugo Rock Racing   33:40
59th Vuelta a Columbia - General Classifications & Photos

KOM Final Classification
1,41, Rujano Jose Zul 117
2,28, Gonzalez Javier Lob 85
3,97, Wilches Juan Pablo Nec 75
4,27, Camargo Fernando Lob 59
5,126, MontanA Freddy Boy 54

Loteria del Tachira's Arthur Garcia Intermediate Sprints Champion

Intermediates Sprints Final Classification
1 Garcia Arthur Loteria Del Tachira 43
2, Roldan Weimar Gws 36
3 Torres Juan Carlos Nec 33

Sprint - Regularidad Final Classification
1 Sevilla Oscar Rrc 115
2  Rujano Jose Zul 105
3 Montana Freddy Boy 66

Under 23 Champion
Cristian Montoya (Indeportes Antioquia-Idea Fla)

Teams Champion, Medellin Based, UNE-EPM was the only one that finished with his 10 men

Team Classification
1 Une-Epm 
2 Loteria De Boyaca 
3 Boyaca Es Para Vivirla 
4 Indeportes Antioquia-Idea-Fla 
5 Ebsa 131,55,11
6 Nectar-Coldeportes-Cundinamarc 
7 Colombia Pasion Cafe Colombia 
8 Rock Racing 
9 Gobernacion Del Zulia 
10 Loteria Del Tachira 
11 Gw Shimano-Chec-Edeq 
12 Para Tunja Lo Mejor 
3 Alcaldias Armenia Y Pereira 
14 Estudiantes De Tunja 
15 Vida Centro Profesional Inderv 
16 Gobernacion Narino-Alkosto 
17 Sawer Jean Forelly

59th Vuelta Pilsen a Colombia 2009
June 6 - 21 - Race Preview
Prologue: Bogotá Parque Simon Bolivar TTT 7.6 km
Stage 1: Bogotá - Museo Nacional 85. km
Stage 2: Mosquera - La Mesa - Ibagué 184.4 km
Stage 3: Ibagué - Alvarado - Ibagué Alto de La Línea 128.2 km^^
Stage 4: Circasia-Armenia - Cali 195.5 km
Stage 5: Guacari-Carretera Panorama - Cartago 146.8 km
Stage 6: Santa Rosa de Cabal - Minas-Sabaneta 177.8 km^
Saturday June 13: Rest Day
Stage 7: Medellin (Alpujarra-Las Vegas - Avda Regional-Obelisco ITT 35 km
Staage 8: Rionegro-Autopista Bogotá - Alto El Escobero 119.5 km ^^
Stage 9: Caldas-La Pintada-Manizales 167.2 km^^
Stage 10: Manizales-Letras- Guaduas 167.3 km^
Stage11: Guaduas-Alto el Vino-Zipaquirà 141.8 km^
Stage 12: Ubate-Chiquinquirá-Arcabuco-Tunja 158.7 km
Stage13: Tunja-Chocontá-Bogotá (Museo Nacional) 142.5 kms
Stage14: La Calera-Alto de Patios-Bogota (Plaza de Bolivar) ITT 23.1 km^
59th Vuelta a Columbia - Dinal General Classifications & Photos
Climbing Stages: ^ Mountain top finishes: ^^
Total km/miles:  1,882 km (1,175 miles)
Stage Profiles pdf.
Race Website

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