Miguel Ángel López, considered one of the best international cyclists in recent years, could continue his cycling career representing a Colombian continental team. This was reported this Wednesday by the specialized page Revistamundociclistico.com. The team that sounds strong to sign him, although there is nothing confirmed, is Team Medellín.
“The formidable Colombian router already has a team in Colombia for the season that is about to begin,” said the virtual medium, adding: “His relationship with a Colombian continental formation would be almost ready, which will allow him to run the national and international calendar this year”.
On December 13, the Astana team’s announcement caused surprise in which it confirmed that it was ending the Boyacá runner’s contract after having “discovered new elements that showed the probable link” between the climber and the Spanish doctor Marcos Maynar, in a context of suspected doping.
“Astana has discovered new elements that demonstrate the probable link between Miguel Ángel López and Dr. Marcos Maynar. Consequently, the team has no other solution than to terminate, with immediate effect, the contract with the rider, due to the violation of said contract and in accordance with the internal rules,” the Kazakh formation said in a statement, adding that it did not want to make further comments to preserve the rights of the team and the rider.
Miguel Ángel López, 28 years old and third in the Giro d’Italia and in the Vuelta in 2018, regretted in another statement an “abusive and unjustified breach” of his contract, adding that he wanted to bring the matter to justice.
The runner denied “any allegation that could tarnish his name and his honor as a professional runner” and recalled “that he has never tested positive for any drug or doping product and has never been under investigation by any authority.”
Winner of the Tour of Switzerland in 2016 and of the Volta a Catalunya in 2018, Miguel Ángel López was briefly detained on July 22 upon his arrival at the Madrid airport. According to the Ciclo21 website, this arrest took place as part of the open investigation for drug trafficking and money laundering, at the heart of which is the doctor Marcos Maynar.
The Astana team then decided to suspend the rider until the circumstances of the case were clarified, before reinstating him “provisionally” a week later, “in the absence of elements found by the Spanish authorities or the International Cycling Union (UCI).”
Source: https://www.elcolombiano.com/