Colombia, a Cycling Nation

Because of its mountainous topography, Colombia has proven to be a talent nest of professional cyclists, positioning the country as the leader of cycling in Latin America. In the 1980’s, Lucho Herrera shone in the European races as one the best mountain bikers, eventually becoming the first Latin American to win a Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, in 1987. In 2002, Santiago Botero followed his steps, becoming the first Latin American cycling world champion after winning the UCI Men’s time trial.

In recent years, Colombian cyclists have proudly represented their country in major sporting events, becoming Colombia’s unofficial ambassadors worldwide. After Nairo Quintana won the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and Vuelta España in 2016, the young cyclist Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to win the most prestigious cycling competition, the Tour de France, in 2019, showcasing the quality and dynamism of Colombian cycling to the world.

A Colombian national sport

It is no exaggeration to say that cycling is, after football, the Colombian national sport. This becomes evident when walking through the streets of Colombia’s major cities on weekends, witnessing the many groups of cyclists either riding swiftly or pedalling up the hills.

Today, cycling can be considered an integral part of the Colombian culture, characterized by widespread practice, active support from authorities and impressive sporting achievements on the international stage.

Colombia and cycling, an old love-story

The symbolic birth of cycling in Colombia can be traced back to 1951, with the first edition of the Vuelta a Colombia, the oldest staged cycling road race in Latin America. Inspired by the Tour de France, the race proved extremely popular and sparked interest in the sport, which rapidly developed professionally.

This cycling boom can be attributed to the specific Colombian social context. At the time, around 75 percent of the population lived in rural areas, where bicycles were the most affordable and available means of transportation. As such, the widespread use of the bicycle and the enthusiasm generated by the Vuelta a Colombia initiated a long-lasting passion for the sport nationwide.

Cycling has become particularly popular in the Andean Region, in departments like Antioquia, Boyacá or Cundinamarca, where most Colombian professional racers and cycling champions come from.

Giro de Rigo, a Colombian cycling celebration

Beyond the international competitions, Colombian cyclists have also been promoting their sport within the country. One famous initiative is the Giro de Rigo, launched in 2018 by Rigoberto Urán, a world-class Colombian cyclist. Each year, this event gathers thousands of amateur cyclists who are allowed to race alongside some of the best professional cyclists in the world.

During the last edition, in November 2023, 5300 cyclists participated in a three-day event through the mountainous department of Cundinamarca, led by Rigoberto Uran and Wout van Aert, one of the sport’s global figureheads. Former special guests include Tour de France winners Tadej Pogacar, Christopher Froome and Alberto Contador, highlighting the special place of Colombia on the international cycling map.

Bogota’s cycling model

More than just a sport, cycling has truly become part of the Colombian lifestyle over the past few decades. This is particularly visible in the country’s capital, Bogota, which can rightfully be considered the cycling capital of Colombia.

Indeed, since the 1970s, the practice of the sport has been actively encouraged by the municipality through innovative and pioneering concepts such as the “Ciclovias”. Launched in 1974, the project enacts the closing of roads on Sundays and holidays to promote bicycle use, a practice that has been fully embraced by the locals.

Today, Bogota stands as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Latin America, with 608 kilometers of permanent cycling lanes and up to 10 percent of its transportation needs met by cycling. Self-proclaimed Cycling Capital of the World, Bogota even inscribed its “Culture of the Uses of the Bicycle” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list on December 7th, 2023.

Bicycle tourism in Colombia

In recent years, Colombia’s tourism agencies have started to actively promote bicycle touring in the country. With its varied landscape and climates, Colombia is indeed incredibly attractive when it comes to cycling; from the mountainous Coffee Axis to the flat plains of the Guajira Peninsula, 38 itineraries are currently available to bicycle enthusiasts to explore the country.

While its bicycle tourism potential remains largely untapped, Colombia has the natural and cultural assets to establish itself as a major international cycling destination.