{
  "id": 254374,
  "title": "'We're in a hole': Why has Colombia stopped producing Grand Tour winners?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/were-in-a-hole-why-has-colombia-stopped-producing-grand-tour-winners",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-07T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cycling Weekly",
    "slug": "cycling-weekly",
    "url": "https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/were-in-a-hole-why-has-colombia-stopped-producing-grand-tour-winners"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colombia's success in the Grand Tours has waned recently, with only 11 active riders in the World Tour as of 2026, down from a peak of 22 in 2021. The golden generation of Colombian cyclists, including Nairo Quintana, Rigoberto Urán, and Esteban Chaves, achieved numerous victories and podium finishes in the Grand Tours between 2010 and 2021. Quintana, the defining rider of this era, announced his retirement at the end of the 2026 Tour de France, marking the beginning of a decline in Colombian cycling. Former head coach Luis Fernando Saldarriaga attributes the decline to the lack of a structured development program for new riders. He emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive system that includes sports science, talent identification, and racecraft development, as seen in Colombia es Pasión, the program responsible for the golden generation's success. Doping remains a persistent issue in Colombian cycling, with the country frequently appearing on World Anti-Doping Agency lists. Despite the achievements of the golden generation and the promise of young talent, Colombia has yet to replicate the success of the past, as no new wave of winners has emerged since Bernal's Tour de France victory in 2021.",
  "summary": "Once cycling's great mountain fliers, Colombia's top riders now appear to have had their wings clipped. CW's Latin American correspondent asks why",
  "key_points": [
    "Colombia's World Tour riders dropped from 22 in 2021 to 11 in 2026.",
    "Nairo Quintana's retirement signals end of golden era in Colombian cycling.",
    "Lack of structured development program blamed for decline in Colombian cycling."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}