BOGOTÁ.- The Colombian Cycling Federation decided to cancel the 2026 Vuelta a Colombia ahead of schedule due to the emergency caused by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the country last Monday and has left hundreds of victims.
You might be interested in: Montero handcuffs Guardians and the Tigers achieve a rare shutout
The competition, which was scheduled to conclude next Sunday, was brought to an end after completing five stages. The decision seeks to facilitate the transit of vehicles and equipment intended for rescue and humanitarian aid efforts, especially towards the areas most affected by the earthquake.
“The 2026 Vuelta a Colombia is hereby terminated,” informed the Colombian Cycling Federation in a statement.
The president of the entity, Rubén Galeano, explained that the route for the following stages included entering Manizales, one of the affected areas, so continuing the competition could hinder the transport of aid.
More Read
“We don’t want to be inopportune by closing a road for an hour or two and have the aid sent suffer any mishap,” pointed out Galeano.
Diego Camargo, champion
At the time of the suspension, the Colombian cyclist Diego Camargo, from the Medellín EPM team, held first place in the general classification and was proclaimed champion of the 76th edition of the Vuelta a Colombia.
Camargo finished with a cumulative time of 21 hours, 28 minutes and 8 seconds.
More Read
The second place went to Javier Ernesto Jamaica, from the NU Colombia team, while Edgar Andrés Pinzón, from Sistecrédito, completed the podium.
The Vuelta a Colombia was originally scheduled from August 8th to 16th, with a nine-stage route and the participation of national and foreign riders.
Although the race was canceled, the Colombian Cycling Federation announced that it will hold the awards ceremony at the Mirador de Jericó, Antioquia.
The emergency caused by the earthquake has also left a large number of people affected, homes destroyed, and material damage, which is why authorities and organizations are focusing their efforts on rescue, care, and humanitarian assistance tasks.
The suspension of the Vuelta a Colombia reflects the priority given to the national emergency and the reallocation of resources to the affected communities.
