The Colombian cycling calendar began to roll in 2024 with the time trial of the National Road Championships that took place this Thursday in the department of Boyacá.
Of course, the highlight of the day was the elite men’s event, where the most important runners of this edition were brought together, including Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán and Daniel Felipe Martínez. The latter fulfilled the predictions to become the new national champion in this specialty.
This was the 27-year-old’s first race with the Better-Hansgrohehis new team after three seasons in the INEOS Grenadiers. Coincidentally, he was more than a minute ahead of his former teammate Brandon Riverawhile the podium was completed Rodrigo Contreraswho welcomed the Not Colombia to national cycling.
See also: Freddy Ávila, new sub 23 national time trial champion
Martínez showed better conditions compared to his great rivals in the time trial between Paipa and Tunja such as Contreras and Walter Vargas, current Pan American champion in this modality. In fact, he was making a difference from the first half-time, where It took almost a minute to Egan Bernal, who could not maintain his rhythm in the final part.
This is how the Bora cyclist ended up rounding off his good day with a final time of 54:02far surpassing its other rivals.
The elite men’s category will have action again this Sunday with the long-distance test, which consists in a 212.5 kilometer circuit that will go from the Mayor’s Office of Corrales to Tunja. There runners are expected to complete a total of seven laps.
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National Road Championships 2023: results of the time trial, men’s elite category
1. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Bora Hansgrohe) – 54:02
2. Brandon Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers) – 55:40
3. Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia) – 55:58
4. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) – 56:33
5. Walter Vargas (Team Medellín) – 56:39