Gaviria's Classics ambitions gather pace in Argentina

Fernando Gaviria wins stage 4 at Vuelta a San Juan
Fernando Gaviria wins stage 4 at Vuelta a San Juan (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Bunch finishes at the Vuelta a San Juan can be fraught. Continental riders know that claiming the scalp of a WorldTour sprinter could earn them passage to the big time. WorldTour sprinters know that a crash here could compromise their entire year. Each group measures the risk and cuts its cloth accordingly.

Fernando Gaviria's sheer quality has seen him stitch together two stage wins so far this week, but on the opening day in San Juan, his preferred route to the line was a touch too perilous and he came home in 9th place. He had no complaints. He hasn't forgotten that he used to be on the other side of the velvet rope.

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Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.