25-Year-Old Alejandro Osorio Seals Maiden Colombian National Championship With Narrow Margin

For a young athlete to bag a victory on his home turf is a feeling like no other. Columbian cycling talent Alejandro Osorio has won his maiden Colombian National Road Race Championship title. He finished yet another race with a victory and is off to a flier this season.

The 25-year-old scripted a memorable win in the 212.5-km race that started back in 1964 and added his name to the history books. It was a race that kept everyone on their toes until the very last minute, with a dramatic finish. Let’s look at how Alejandro cycled to perhaps his most precious gold medal yet.

Alejandro Osorio reigns supreme on home turf

Winning his third race of the season, Alejandro has forced the stop and notice of his cycling prowess and winning mentality. He did not dominate the race throughout, but his skill in the crunch moments made him stand out. Riding on the advantage of an early breakaway, he conserved considerable energy for the final push.

Cyclists Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) worked to catch up to him and almost succeeded. But it can make a tremendous difference in a sport where the barest of margins matter. Both cyclists chased him until the very end, which made for some excellent viewing, giving everyone a taste of thrill in the final moments.

Osorio finished a mere four seconds ahead of them, showing just how narrow the margin was. He ended the race with a total time of 4:53:23 and completed a memorable win.

A talent to watch out for

Walking away with a win with two-time Columbian champion Sergio Higuita breathing down your neck is a massive feat. For people in the Columbian cycling circuit, Alejandro became quite famous. He showed his mettle as a climber for the U-23 Continental Team at GW-Shimano, with a stage win at the Giro and a top-10 ranking in Tour de l’Avenir.

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Even though Bernardo Suaza started the assault ahead and made a run, Alejandro used his tactical understanding to create a gap and cut through, ideally using the opportunity presented to him. 

The victory at Boyaca was his third, and judging by his form and performance, there may be many more to come. It could well be the turning point of the young athlete’s career. A journey that will be worth following!

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