'It was total chaos' – Fernando Gaviria hits his mark in Tour Colombia opener

Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) on the podium after winning stage 1 of Tour Colombia
Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) on the podium after winning stage 1 of Tour Colombia (Image credit: Maximiliano Blanco/Getty Images)

In Fernando Gaviria's mind, there was only one clear shot at glory on this Tour Colombia. In a race deep in the heart of mountain country, the flat, opening leg to Duitama provided the only firm guarantee for the fast men.

Small wonder, then, that the finale to stage 1 was so frantic. Mark Cavendish's Astana-Qazaqstan train did their best to take control in the rain-slicked final kilometre, but they were swamped within sight of the line. Although Cavendish and company spent the past three weeks training at altitude, the effects of competing at 2,500 metres above sea level were surely still a factor here.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was 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.