Colombia faces a new participation in the Tour of Burgoswhich starts this Tuesday, with a batch of luxury cyclists who lead Miguel Angel Lopez, Ivan Sosa and Santiago Buitrago, of recognized conditions.
The competition starts with a 157-kilometer line stage that will end in a third-category mountain prize.
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Lopez is the reference. The team Astana lifted his sanction, after his name was linked to Operation Ilex, being investigated in Spain for the trafficking of prohibited drugs.
López, winning story
The boyacense cyclist was detained at the airport in Madrid, Spain, when he arrived from Colombia, but the Civil Guard did not find anything in his luggage.
Nevertheless, his name is in court 4 of Cáceres in which the investigation against the doctor Marcos Maynar is being carried outwho is in the eye of the hurricane.
The leaders of Astana pointed out that López will continue to be closely monitored and that as long as no accusations or accusations are made, he will be able to compete again.
Burgos is a good opportunity for him to prepare for the Tour of Spain. This year he has only obtained one victory, when he won the day of the Tour of the Alps.
He went to the Giro d’Italia, but withdrew in the fourth stage due to a muscular problem in his right leg, from which he has already recovered.
The key is that he returns and will be one of the benchmarks in Burgos and in the Vuelta a España, a great goal for him and his team. López is a great candidate for the title.
Sosa, two titles in the pocket
Iván Sosa arrives with blood in his eye. He has not had a good year with Movistar and has won twice in Burgos. He was the champion in 2018 and 2019 and his team needs these wins for the ranking of the World Tour.
Buitrago arrives with the aim of helping Mikel Landa, their leader in Bahrain, to defend the title they won last year. The rider has been key in that group and has acquired much more status after the stage victory in the last Giro d’Italia.
Fernando Gaviria (UAWE Emirates) has the option to go for partial victories. It is known that his renewal with the squad is not going well, so a victory would be ideal for the sprinter, who will be accompanied by Camilo Ardila.
Esteban Chaves will be the man who fights for the general in the EF teamwho is looking for points so as not to go down in the WT next year.
Colombia, 10 podiums
Chaves has had a good season, as he was ninth in the Tour of Norway, seventh at the Criterium Dauphiné, second at Mont Ventoux and Burgos can be a good opportunity to appear.
Colombia has won the race five times, the two by Sosa, and the two by Nairo Quintana (2013 and 2014) and one by Mauricio Soler (2007).
In addition, there are 10 podiums. Five titles plus second places for López in 2018, Sergio Henao in 2012 and the third places of Chaves in 2012, Wálter Pedraza in 2008 and Martín Farfán in 1991.
Names like Landa’s, Joao Almeida, Vincenzo Nibali, Juan Pedro López, Jai Hindley, Giro champion, Wilko KeldermanPavel Sivakov and Hugh Carthy strengthen the batch of favourites.
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