You could say that EF Pro Cycling had a pretty good week at Tour Colombia. The American team won three of six stages, led the race overall from start to finish, and ended up with the top three spots on GC. The teams classification and best young rider jersey were simply the icing on top.
Bear in mind the quality of the opposition that EF had to face — Ineos had two Grand Tour winners in Egan Bernal (who won the race in 2018) and Richard Carapaz; Julian Alaphilippe was there for Deceuninck-QuickStep; and Esteban Chaves was racing for the Colombian national team. In short, EF didn’t have it easy.
Thankfully for us, Ashley and Jered Gruber were at the race shooting for EF. You can see their fine work in the gallery below (with some additional images from Cor Vos).
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- EF Pro Cycling came to Colombia with a stacked line-up. From left to right: Tejay van Garderen, Daniel Martinez, Colombian champ Sergio Higuita, Rigoberto Uran, Ecuadorian champ Jonathan Caicedo, and Lawson Craddock.
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- Stage 1 was a teams time trial …
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- … which had a bit of wind for the riders to contend with.
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- EF put in a strong ride …
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- … that saw the American outfit put 45 seconds into their nearest rivals.
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- Caicedo took the first leader’s jersey ahead of Higuita (right) and Martinez (not pictured). Rigo Uran is pictured here with the stage winner’s jersey.
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- Caicedo was the toast of the team that evening.
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- Rigo Uran has plenty of supporters wherever he goes, but particularly in Colombia.
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- Stage 2 was a very flat affair destined to end in a bunch sprint. Note the riders numbers on their helmets — you don’t see that at many pro bike races.
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- Juan Molano (UAE Team Emirates) won the stage …
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- … while Caicedo held on to the overall lead).
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- Higuita earned another day in white as the best young rider.
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- Stage 3 was lumpier than the day previous but was also perfect for a bunch sprint.
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- Two stages in a row for points classification leader Molano.
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- Another day in the orange leader’s jersey for Caicedo.
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- Rigo the rockstar.
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- Stage 4 featured the first real difficulty of the race — an uphill finish into Santa Rosa de Viterba.
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- It split up on the approach to the finish …
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- … where Higuita beat Egan Bernal and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep).
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- Higuita’s stage win moved him into the overall lead.
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- EF had plenty to celebrate throughout the week.
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- Radio broadcasters hang out of a car to call the race.
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- There was a sizeable scrum at the finish of stage 5 …
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- … to watch Molano win another sprint.
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- The 25-year-old Colombian would leave the race having won three of six stages.
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- Colombians love their bike racing.
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- The final stage featured another uphill finish …
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- … and more massive crowds.
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- Ineos tried their best to give Bernal a shot at victory …
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- … but in the closing kilometres Martinez and Higuita emerged strongest …
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- … with Martinez taking the stage win …
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- … and an exhausted Higuita securing the overall victory.
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- It’s the first stage-race victory for the 22-year-old who has had a rapid rise through the ranks in recent years.
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- Higuita first, Martinez second, Caicedo third. With three stages wins as well, it was a brilliant week for EF.
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