ESTEBAN CHAVES: The Return?
ESTEBAN CHAVES CLIMBED INTO THE INTERNATIONAL cycling limelight when he won the Tour de L’Avenir – widely considered ‘the Junior Tour de France’ – in 2011. He turned pro the following year with the Italian based Colombia-Coldeportes team, and embarked on what would prove to be a roller-coaster career.
In 2013 he suffered a horrific crash, a potentially career ending ‘chute’. But in good faith was still signed to the Orica Green Edge (now Mitchelton Scott) team, who he has raced for ever since.
His career has glittered with sheer brilliance, humility – and of course his seemingly ever-present positive good nature and smiles have made him a firm favourite with cycling fans the world over.
In 2016 he came 2nd in the Giro d’Italia and 3rd in the Vuelta a España, as well as taking victory in the Tour of Lombardy – firmly stating his arrival as a grand tour contender. Unfortunately things went pear-shaped after that, as he contracted Mononucleosis virus, which is often caused by Epstein-Barr virus, which has floored several leading pros in recent times.
Despite the often debilitating effects of this and coming close to leaving the sport behind, he has gradually returned to form and is once again looking towards grand tour greatness.
ST: COLOMBIA HAS ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR CYCLING. IN THE 1980S WAS WHEN THE CAFÉ DE COLOMBIA TEAM FIRST HIT THE HEADLINES, ALTHOUGH HERE WAS A LULL IN COLOMBIAN RIDERS MAKING IT BIG IN EUROPE AFTER THAT. HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED SINCE THE NEW GENERATION TOOK THINGS TO SUCH A HIGH LEVEL, AND HAS THAT CHANGED THE
