Rigoberto Uran, Fabio Parra also recognized during big night for Colombian cycling
At just 23 years of age, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was awarded the Sportsman of the Year prize in Colombia. In the ceremony held in Bogota, Quintana was the unanimous victor of the prize awarded by Colombian news publication El Espectador.
Colombian cycling was at the forefront during the awards presentation, with both Rigoberto Uran (Sky Procycling) and retired professional Fabio Parra picking up recognitions as well.
Quintana was outstanding for the entirety of his 2013 campaign, but he became a national hero in July after numerous hard-fought battles with eventual winner Chris Froome (Sky Procycling) in the Tour de France.
Quintana had a total of eight victories on the season, winning in the Volta a Catalunya, the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and the Vuelta a Burgos. But the highlights came in the Tour, as he picked up a win on stage 20, along with both the mountains classification and best young rider prize.
“I’m excited. I want to thank all my team-mates for their efforts and my family for always being there,” Quintana stated according to El Espectador.
Along with Quintana, Colombia had another Grand Tour runner-up finish, with Uran’s second place in the Giro d’Italia behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). He was honoured by El Espectador, along with former Grand Tour podium finisher Fabio Parra.
Parra was presented with the ‘Vida y Obra’ [Life and Work] award. Helping to pave the way for riders such as Quintana and Uran, Parra won stages in both the Tour and the Vuelta a España. He also won the Tour’s white jersey in 1985. His third place finish in the Tour in 1988 was the highest by a Colombian until Quintana this season.
It was a banner year for Colombian athletics as a whole, inspiring the organization to create a Sportswoman of the Year category as well. Caterine Ibargüen walked away with that prize, thanks to her triple jump gold medal in the IAAF World Championships in Moscow in August. Ibargüen was also the Olympic silver medalist a year ago in London.
“I’m happy to share the prize with Nairo, and all our athletes try to give our best,” she said. “It’s what makes us great and helps us to move forward.”