Cycling: Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) won the Tour Colombia 2019. Third place on today's final stage was enough for the Colombian to hold his ground in the overall standings by four seconds ahead of second-placed Ivan Sosa (Sky). Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the stage.
Chris Froome in the support role
The last stage of the Tour Colombia was tough. From El Retiro, the profile led the pros over 173,8 kilometers to Alto Las Palmas. The final climb was supposed to be a real showdown with a length of 15,5 kilometers and an average gradient of 6,5 percent - and the mountain kept its promise. After the breakaways were caught, none other than led Chris Froome (Sky) the group of favorites into the climb. He acted as a helper together with last year's winner Egan Bernal (Sky) to Captain Ivan Sosa (Sky) into position. Due to the high speed, the overall leader could Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) already five kilometers before the finish. The cards for overall victory were reshuffled and it all came down to a fight between the Colombians.
#TourColombia2019 – Finally got a video of what happened to Quintana pic.twitter.com/k2AEUqkIdc
- La Flamme Rouge (@ laflammerouge16) 17. February 2019
Falls, standing attempts & tension
The king's stage heralded its climax when Nairo Quintana (Movistar) launched the first attack. The group flew apart. Now every captain had to fight for himself. But the struggle of the Colombian giants was cut short when a fan stumbled onto the pavement and so did Nairo Quintana Ivan Sosa (Sky) with tore to the ground. Unperturbed Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and Egan Bernal (Sky) keep pedaling. However, those who fell were able to reconnect. The four Colombians should make up the day's victory among themselves. But while Bernal fought for captain Sosa and fell back shortly afterwards, that same Sosa dueled with Lopez for the overall victory. There were standing attempts, which Quintana knew how to use for an attack. So he was able to win the stage safely. Sosa was no longer able to shake off Lopez. With that, “Superman” Lopez wins the Tour Colombia by just four seconds.
¡TOP 3 PARA COLOMBIA! 💪🚴
Así fue la definition de la ultima etapa del #TourColombia2019, and in a fitting finale, Nairo Quintana is also with the editor, Iván Sosa and Miguel Ángel Lopez, both second and more respectful
📹 @LasBielas pic.twitter.com/BNLL9Ish9M— Hinchas Colombianos 🇨🇴 (@AficionColombia) 17. February 2019