After a great cycling battle, the fourth edition of the Tour Colombia 2024 finished this Sunday in the capital of the Republic. The Cundinamarca-born Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia) defended the lead and was crowned champion of the race of the UCI calendar.
Contreras, who took the lead in the third fraction with finish in Tunja, was able to respond to the multiple attacks of his rivals to defend his position in the climb to Patios, which was attended by an impressive number of people.
The places of honor of the fourth edition of the Tour Colombia were completed by the Ecuadorians Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) and Jonathan Klever Caicedo (Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli), who finished second and third, respectively.
The final day started very lively and before starting to climb the Alto de Sisga, a fourth category mountain prize, Egan Bernal (Selección Colombia), Javier Jamaica (Team Medellín-EPM), Hernán Dario Gómez (Sidi Ali – Unlock Team) and Alexis Quinteros (Team Banco Guayaquil-Bianchi) jumped out of the bunch.
Then followed a show by Egan Bernal (Selección Colombia) and Javier Jamaica (Team Medellín-EPM), the duo put on a show for about 40 kilometers, however, before the final two climbs the breakaway of the two riders was neutralized.
With the ‘Gallos de la General’ in command the last kilometers passed, the intense control work of the continental team Nu Colombia took effect, managing to control the attack of the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, who was very active in the final climb.
In the closing stages, the small group played for the stage victory, where the Colombian team set the pace with Egan Bernal opening the way for his teammate Jhonatan Pacora Restrepo, who took the victory in Bogota in a sensational sprint. Second came Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost) and third Alejandro Osorio (GW Erco Shimano).
Colombian Rodrigo Contreras (NU Colombia), described as “historic for me and for Colombia” his absolute victory in the Tour Colombia that ended in Bogota with the victory in a reduced sprint of his compatriot Jonathan Restrepo.
“It was a very complicated day because we went very fast and the World Tour teams wanted to eliminate me any way they could. I managed to control the situation thanks to the support of a sensational team, especially with the work of Daniel Muñoz, who prevented Carapaz from leaving for good,” said a happy Rodrigo Contreras at the finish line.
The final joy of the cyclist from Villapinzón did not prevent him from admitting the difficulties he went through after Carapaz’s attack 15 km from the finish line, on the ascent to the Alto de Patios.
“When Carapaz attacked I didn’t get desperate. There was a moment when I had a bad time, I was in trouble, but I decided to regulate the pace and make progress little by little. We were able to crown the port near the main one and then we were very happy to win this title in Bogota,” he said.
Although Contreras was counting on a very complicated day from the start in Sopó, the possibility of losing the Tour de Colombia on the last day never crossed his mind.
“From before the start of the stage, the team’s desire to maintain the first position in the general classification was evident. We always start with the expectation of winning. We always have the certainty that we are a good team,” he explained.
“It is an immense joy, a spectacular and historic triumph for me and for Colombia, we have shown that we can beat the teams from outside,” he concluded.
Stage 6 | Sopó – Bogotá (138,7 km)
| 1 | Jhonatan Restrepo | Selección Colombia | 3:06:24 |
| 2 | Richard Carapaz | EF Education – EasyPost | ,, |
| 3 | Alejandro Osorio | GW Erco Shimano | ,, |
| 4 | Jonathan Klever Caicedo | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | ,, |
| 5 | Harold Tejada | Astana Qazaqstan Team | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Rodrigo Contreras | Nu Colombia | 21:18:26 |
| 2 | Richard Carapaz | EF Education – EasyPost | 0:06 |
| 3 | Jonathan Klever Caicedo | Forte Petrolike – Androni Giocattoli | 0:26 |
| 4 | Rigoberto Urán | EF Education – EasyPost | 0:50 |
| 5 | Egan Bernal | Selección Colombia | 1:01 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico