Cycling world champion in 2000, he was an idol for his fans: he died following a neck wound suffered during a robbery
The world of international cycling is shocked by tragic news. Marlon Pérez Arangoformer world champion and true legend of Colombian cycling, was brutally killed during a robbery in Medellín. Pérez, 48, died following a lethal wound to the neck, inflicted during the attack. Rushed to hospital in desperate conditions, his heart stopped beating a few hours after admission, leaving a trail of pain and disbelief.
The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday 2 October. According to initial reconstructions, Pérez was in the company of two people when he found himself at the center of the attack. One of them already has a name: it is a man known as “Alias Barbas“. The latter, arrested shortly after the murder, was in a state of intoxication, with traces of the victim’s blood on his clothes. Medellín law enforcement confirmed that Barbas was with Pérez at the time of the attack. His immediate capture was not possible as there was no flagrant crime. However, the judicial process against him has already begun.
Preliminary investigations exclude the possibility of a fight, leading to the suspicion of an armed robbery. Pérez, who was undocumented at the time of the attack, was identified only after his arrival at the hospital. The stab wound, which fatally severed the cyclist’s neck, left him no escape.
Marlon Pérez Arango was a leading figure in world cycling and an absolute idol in Colombia. His career took off in 1994, when he won the world junior champion title in the points race. That exploit opened the doors to a brilliant career for him, which saw him also win the title in 2000 World Cup in the same specialty, this time among seniors. In 1998 he won the general classification of the Vuelta a Colombia U23, and from then on his successes were constant.
Among his many victories stands out the triumph against time at the 2011 Pan American Games, an achievement that crowned a career full of great feats. Pérez raced for prestigious teams such as Colombia – Selle Italia, Tenax and Caisse d’Epargne, now Movistar, helping to consolidate the name of Colombian cycling on the international scene.
The investigators are trying to reconstruct in detail the dynamics of that fateful day. Meanwhile, the sporting world unites in collective grief, mourning the loss of a champion who still had so much to give. Marlon Pérez Arango is the victim of blind violence that extinguished a star of Colombian cycling forever.
The excyclist Marlon Pérez was attacked in Carmen de Viboral with white weapon. One of the great cyclists of the previous generation was brought to Rigo to race in Europa.
Very painful news. pic.twitter.com/yvVdF76lpQ
— Goles en Directo (@golesendir_) October 4, 2024
Marlon Pérez’s funeral will be held in the next few days. It will be an event full of emotion and tributes to an athlete who left an indelible mark on sport and in the hearts of many.
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