07:47 AM
Juan Esteban Arango will not go to the Paris Olympic Games-2024. The chosen semi-distance runner was Fernando Gaviria.
After sealing the numerical quota for Colombia for the sport’s highest competitions in the semi-distance modality in track cycling, the Technical Commission of the Colombian Cycling Federation He considered that Fernando Gaviria was the right one to represent the country in the French competition.
Indeed, Gaviria, a double elite track world champion, was the last national representative, eight years ago, to compete in this specialty in the Olympic Games.
After the Rio Games-2016, In which he finished in fourth position in the omnium event, Gaviria assured that he was retiring from the velodromes to focus fully on the road, a specialty in which he became a great world figure thanks to his power and sprint speed.
In 2019, Fernando, today representing Team Movistar, made a brief return to the woodwork to compete in the Internacional in Cali, where he left his mark of quality by winning the gold medal in the madison and silver in the omnium. But in 2023 he began to alternate the track and road with the hope of returning to the Olympics, which is yet to be fulfilled after the decision taken recently, as indicated by Juanes Arango himself and confirmed by the national coach John Jaime González.
Serene but without hiding his pain, Arango, who for more than a year and a half had tattooed the Olympic rings as motivation to return to the Games after 12 years, confirmed to El Colombiano that the one chosen to be in Paris was Gaviria, who comes from racing the Giro d’Italia.
“On Monday John Jaime called me and confirmed that the Technical Committee had decided to take Gaviria for the omnium test,” said Juanes, who in the Olympic cycle achieved valuable points to get the ticket to Paris, after being runner-up in the Pan American in Los Angeles and tenth in the Nations Cup in Canada this year.
“Regarding the decision, I expressed to them that I accepted it as the professional cyclist that I am, but that I did not share it.” because finally I have done a job very focused on the track to qualify for the Olympics. I had in mind to return to the Olympics, to be at a good level again and I feel that in the last three years we managed to update ourselves in many things. “We have to accept the determination because it is only in my hands to do things and not to make the decisions.” commented Arango, who does not stop training because, as he states, From now on to the Paris competition anything can happen and you must be prepared in case you receive the call from the National Team, since you are a substitute.
“I have the peace of mind that I did everything in my power to get that Olympic quota as well as to achieve my goals. Obviously there is pain, because the truth is it was a very autonomous process looking for that Olympic dream,” said the 37-year-old athlete from the United States, ensuring that at this moment he cannot give in.
“I can’t cry or get depressed because I have other important skills. and anything can happen before the Olympics, since cycling is a high-risk sport. I continue working because this is what I am passionate about,” said Juanes, who will compete starting this Thursday in an 11-day race and on circuits in Milwaukee.
Criteria in mind
National coach John Jaime González He recalled that the quota achieved by the country was numerical and not nominal, and indicated that an analysis of the two runners was carried out, also remembering that not only Juanes Arango added valuable points, but also Gaviria, otherwise he could not be required for be in the Olympics. “That’s why there are those two options called Juan Esteban Arango and Fernando Gaviria, because they both contributed to the overall classification,” González recalled.
It should be noted that in the 2023 Pan American Championship in San Juan, Argentina, qualifying for the Games, Gaviria was second in the omnium, behind the Canadian Dylan Bibic, who had just become world champion in France-2022.
“A Technical Commission, which is quite large, of about ten people, made the decision after analyzing both corridors, which are very good. I was the last one to vote. Among the criteria that the members of the Commission took into account, they asked me to include age, participation in the World Championship, success in the event, where they are preparing, what level they are at, their evolution, performances and points that each contributed. “One, several things were weighed, unfortunately they are decisions that have to be made,” the counselor emphasized, adding that at this moment neither of them can relax and they must continue preparing, without letting their guard down, because Gaviria at this moment He is the starter and Arango, if something happens with Fernando, would be his replacement.
The other track players who will be in the Games
In addition to Fernando Gaviria, the Colombian Cycling Federation reported on Wednesday night that the other track cycling representatives who will be at the Paris Olympic Games will be the sprinters. Martha Bayona, Stefany Cuadrado, Kevin Santiago Quintero and Cristian Ortega.
