Rubiano moving across from Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela, is a past winner of mountains classification
Former world under 23 champion Fabio Duarte has been confirmed as one of the two leaders of Team Colombia in the 2014 Tour de San Luis, which gets underway in less than a month’s time in Argentina.
The 27 year old, who took the espoir rainbow jersey in 2008, showed his ability in 2012 when he won the Coppa Sabatini plus the prologue of the Vuelta a Colombia, and also took fifth overall in the Tour of California.
His 2013 results were quieter, although he did finish second on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo stage of the Giro d’Italia.
He wants to turn things back around next season, regaining past momentum and trying to be in the results more often. The Tour de San Luis should suit him well, not least because of the climbs the riders will face.
The team’s other captain will be new signing Miguel Angel Rubiano, who moves across to the squad after two years with Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela. He finished seventh overall in the 2013 Tour de San Luis, and won the king of the mountains classification one year earlier.
Rubiano also took second in the GP Industria & Commercio di Prato and was second on a stage and third overall in the Settimana Coppi e Bartali.
It will be the team’s first time to start the race. It will consequently be motivated to leave its mark.
“Throughout the San Luis region, the Escarabajos will have the opportunity to test their legs on demanding courses, including three uphill finishes,” stated the team, making clear that the riders will be ambitious in the early season event.
Duarte is due to become a father in a few days but has no thoughts of staying at home in January; he has been training hard and his teams feels he will be ready for the start in January 19th.
The team will also comprise track specialist Juan Esteban Arango, Juan Pablo Valencia plus the sprinters Edwin Avila and Leonardo Duque.
The Pro Continental team will line out alongside twelve WorldTour teams in the event, namely AG2R-La Mondiale (France), Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling (Italy), Garmin - Sharp (USA), Katusha (Russia), Lampre-Merida (Italy), Lotto-Belisol (Belgium), Movistar Team (Spain), Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Belgium), Orica Greenedge (Australia) and Trek Factory Racing (USA).
The race begins with a 164 kilometre stage running from San Luis to Villa Mercedes. This will be followed by finishes in Mirador del Potrero, Juana Koslay and the Altor del Amago, a 19.2 kilometre time trial in San Luis, plus two further road race stages to Merlo/Mirador del Sol and Terrazas del PorteZuelo.
In all there will be 1,030.8 kilometres of racing, including those three summit finishes.
Tour de San Luis (January 19th – 26th)
Team Colombia: Fabio Duarte, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Edwin Avila, Leonardo Duque, Juan Esteban Arango, Juan Pablo Valencia.
Directeur sportif: Oscar Pellicioli