Clásico RCN

Clásico RCN
Race details
Date October
Region Colombia
English name RCN Classic
Local name(s) Clásico RCN (Spanish)
Discipline Road race
Competition UCI
Type Stage race
History
First edition 1961
Editions 53 (as of 2013)
First winner  Rubén Darío Gómez (COL)
Most wins  Rafael Antonio Niño (COL) (5 wins)
Most recent  Camilo Gómez (COL)

The Clásico RCN (Spanish for RCN Classic) is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation.[1]

The event is sponsored by Radio Cadena Nacional, which is one of the oldest and largest radio networks in Colombia, and by a network of Colombian business in Medellín "Empresas Públicas de Medellín".[2] The Clásico RCN and the Vuelta a Colombia are the most important stage races in Colombia.[3][4][5] The first event was held in 1961 and was won by Ruben Dario Gomez. Many well-known Colombian cyclists have won the event, including Martín Emilio Rodríguez, Fabio Parra, Luis Herrera and Rafael Antonio Niño.

During the 1980s, the Clásico RCN held several "open" events in which professional cycling teams from Europe came and competed in the race.[6] It has been written that the reason for this was for Elite professionals in Europe to get altitude training in the early season in Colombia.[7] Some of the teams competing in the Clásico RCN during the eighties included Peugeot-Shell-Michelin, Renault-Elf-Gitane, SEM-France Loire, La Vie Claire, Zor and Reynolds[6] which resulted in stage wins by Pascal Simon, Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault, Charly Mottet and Martial Gayant.[8] In the 1992 edition of the Clásico RCN, the Carrera Jeans-Vagabond and Festina cycling teams competed where Sean Kelly, Claudio Chiappucci, Thomas Wegmuller won stages of the event.[9]

In the history of the event, there has been two times when the overall winner was later disqualified for doping. This happened in 1971 when Álvaro Pachón Morales was disqualified, and the win was given to Rafael Antonio Niño, and also in 1991 when Pablo Emilio Wilches Tumbia was disqualified with the win going to Fabio Hernán Rodríguez Hernández.[10] There was a tragic accident in the 1985 edition of the race when Jorge Iván Ramírez fell during a stage and died later.[11]

Although the Clásico RCN now occurs in October, past events have taken place in March, April, May and August. It began as a two-day event, but its duration and distance were increased and, in 2000, it consisted of ten stages.

Past winners

Rider Team
1961 Colombia Gómez, Ruben DaríoRubén Darío Gómez (COL) Camisas Jarcano
1962 Colombia Gómez, Ruben DaríoRubén Darío Gómez (COL) Camisas Jarcano
1963 Colombia , Martín Emilio "Cochise" RodríguezMartín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez  (COL) Antioquia Blue Bell- Wrangler
1964 Colombia Buitrago, GabrielGabriel Buitrago (COL) Antioquia-Cuadernos Bolivariana
1965 Colombia Suarez Cueva, JesusJésus Suarez Cueva (COL) Antioquia Suramericana
1966 Colombia Suarez Cueva, JesusJésus Suarez Cueva (COL) Antioquia Suramericana
1967 Colombia , Martín Emilio "Cochise" RodríguezMartín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez  (COL) Antioqua Wrangler-Caribú
1968 Colombia Grijalba, JairoJairo Grijalba (COL) Valle-Canada Dry
1969 Colombia Pachon Morales, AlvaroAlvaro Pachòn Morales (COL) Cundinamarca Relojes Pierce
1970 Colombia Gonzalez, OscarOscar González (COL) Pilsen
1971 Colombia Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Singer
1972 Colombia Mejia, AlbeiroAlbeiro Mejía (COL) Caribú
1973 Colombia Dios Morales, Juan deJuan de Dios Morales (COL) Singer
1974 Colombia Cáceres, NorbertoNorberto Cáceres (COL) Ferreteria Reina
1975 Colombia Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Banco Cafetero
1976 Colombia Jimenez Bautista, JoseJosé Jiménez Bautista (COL) Banco Cafetero
1977 Colombia Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Banco Cafetero
1978 Colombia Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Benotto
1979 Colombia Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Lotería de Boyaca
1980 Colombia Navarro, FabioFabio Navarro (COL) Perfumeria Janeth
1981 Colombia Gutierrez, ManuelManuel Gutierrez (COL) Bicicletas Ositto
1982 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Freskola
1983 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Isla de Aquitania
1984 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Pilas-Varta
1985 Colombia Rodriguez, FranciscoFrancisco Rodriguez (COL) Zor
1986 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Café de Colombia
1987 Colombia Parra, FabioFabio Parra (COL) Café de Colombia
1988 Colombia Mejia, AlvaroÁlvaro Mejía (COL) Castalia
1989 Colombia Mejia, AlvaroÁlvaro Mejía (COL) Manzana Postobon
1990 Colombia Wilches, GustavoGustavo Wilches (COL) Manzana Postobon
1991 Colombia Rodriguez, FabioFabio Rodriguez (COL) Pony Malta-Avianca
1992 Colombia Camargo, AlbertoAlberto Camargo (COL) Manzana Postobon
1993 Colombia González, Luis AlbertoLuis Alberto González (COL) Glacial
1994 Colombia Aguirre, Julio CesarJulio César Aguirre (COL) Manzana Postobon
1995 Colombia Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) ZG Mobili Glacial
1996 Colombia Ochoa, IsraelIsrael Ochoa (COL) Glacial
1997 Colombia Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) Caprecone
1998 Colombia Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) Aguardiente Nectar
1999 Colombia Hernandez, JairoJairo Hernández (COL) Orbitel
2000 Colombia Ramírez, Juan DiegoJuan Diego Ramírez (COL) Orbitel
2001 Colombia Ramírez, Juan DiegoJuan Diego Ramírez (COL) Orbitel
2002 Colombia Castelblanco, JoseJosé Castelblanco (COL) Columbia Selle Italia Alc.Cabimas
2003 Colombia Castelblanco, JoseJosé Castelblanco (COL) Columbia Selle Italia Alc.Cabimas
2004 Colombia Buenahora, HernanHernán Buenahora (COL) Orbitel
2005 Colombia Nino, LibardoLibardo Niño (COL) Loteria de Boyaca Coordinadora
2006 Colombia González, Javier AlbertoJavier Alberto González (COL) EPM Orbitel
2007 Colombia Nino, LibardoLibardo Niño (COL) UNE Orbitel
2008 Spain Sevilla, OscarÓscar Sevilla (ESP) Rock Racing
2009 Colombia Ortega, MauricioMauricio Ortega (COL) UNE-EPM
2010 Colombia Cárdenas,FélixFélix Cárdenas (COL) GW Shimano-Chec Edec
2011 Colombia Infantino,RafaelRafael Infantino (COL) EPM-UNE
2012 Spain Sevilla,OscarÓscar Sevilla (ESP) Formesán - Pinturas Bler - IDRD - Bogotá Humana
2013 Colombia Gomez,CamiloCamilo Gomez (COL) Coldeportes Claro

References

  1. "Federacion Colombiana de Ciclismo" (in Spanish). Ciclismode colombia. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  2. "2000 Clásico RCN". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  3. "Clasico RCN". cyclingnews bike zone. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  4. "Colombian 2002 Road Calendar". rivals.net - daily peloton.com. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  5. "05 Orbitel is go". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Compendio General del Clasico RCN". Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  7. Rendell, Matt (2002). Kings of the Mountains. Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-837-9.
  8. "Las Glorias de los ochenta engalanaron el recorrido del Clásico RCN". Clásico RCN. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  9. "En los noventa, la television Hega para darle lustro al Clásico". Clásico RCN. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  10. "Palmares del Clásico RCN". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  11. "Tragedia Ciclista". Retrieved 2007-10-20.

External links