The spring of 2012 has been a baptism by fire for Colombia-Coldeportes, racing the big spring races for the first time, and Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo brought another learning experience for the plucky Colombian squad.
Team rider Juan Pablo Suarez was in the day’s long breakaway, and Carlos Quintero was taken to the hospital after the most serious crash of the race, while Suarez was highest placed among the team’s three finishers. He was 97th, nine and a half minutes behind winner Simon Gerrans (GreenEdge).
Above all, team manager Claudio Corti was happy that Quintero escaped without serious injury, and that his team was able to ride valiantly throughout the day.
“Carlos is okay, and that’s the most important thing, as we really lived some shocking moments during the race,” Corti said afterward. “In the end, we are pretty content with how it unfolded, as it could have been much worse. And we are also satisfied with our race. We planned to get into the breakaway, and Suarez didn’t miss his chance.”
The 26-year-old Suarez got away with eight others just four kilometers into the race. The group of nine would spend over 230 kilometers alone at the front, building a maximum lead of over 13 minutes.
“We worked together pretty well in the front group, and that’s what helped us to hold on for so long,” Suarez stated. “I did my best to force the action as much as I could. I had not raced a lot this season, but I am very happy with the performance of both myself and the team. I hope we will improve more and more in the upcoming races, starting with Coppi e Bartali.”
The action began to heat up on the climb of Le Manie, and Mark Cavendish (Sky Procycling) dropped away from the front and out of contention for good. The descent of Le Manie has proven decisive in the past, with several sprinters caught up behind a crash at a similar point last year.
A majority of the bunch made it safely this time, but Quintero did not. Cameras picked up the 26-year-old at the base of the descent, lying unconscious on the tarmac. He was tended to immediately by paramedics, and Colombia-Coldeportes team doctor Massimiliano Mantovani had good news after the race.
“There were some very frantic moments, but Carlos regained consciousness pretty soon, and the CT scan ruled out any serious consequences,” Mantovani stated, though Quintero did come away with a broken collarbone.
Though they don’t have the experience or the type of rider that can excel at La Primavera, Corti could be satisfied with the way his riders competed on Saturday. He paid tribute to Suarez and his efforts after the race.
“We knew that the favourites would have come to the fore at some point, but I think Juan Pablo and his breakaway companions did something big. To stay away for 240 kilometers at Milan-Sanremo is anything but easy. Suarez showed quality and tenaciousness, as he held on to be our best rider on the finishing line.”
Colombia-Coldeporetes heads next to Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale before making its debut in the Tour of California later in the spring.