It took four years for Álvaro Hodeg, the cyclist who spent six months in a wheelchair and whose doctors told him he might never walk again, to feel the greatness of triumph.
This Sunday, at the closing of the Pan American Road Cycling Championships in Punta del Este, Uruguay, where Colombia extended its continental supremacy, Hodeg caused a sensation thanks to his strength, power and speed, added to the support of his teammates, winning the gold medal.
In the sprint and after 209.6 kilometers, the rider from Monterrey, who this year received the support of Team Medellin after leaving UAE Emirates and leaving the World Tour after eight years, won with a time of 4 hours, 56 minutes and 44 seconds. The podium was completed by Costa Ricans Sebastián Brenes, silver, and Jason Andrey Huertas, bronze.
After his victory, Hodeg sealed the lowest performance in the history of Colombia in the Pan American, in which he obtained his ninth consecutive overall title after winning 7 gold medals, 6 silver medals and one bronze medal.
Alvarito’s last victory had been in the first stage of the Tour of Slovakia, on September 16, 2021, in which he beat the renowned former rider Peter Sagan, multiple world champion.
At the end of that year, when he was made official as a new UAE Emirates rider, Hodeg experienced the most difficult moments of his life.
He had an accident, but not on a bicycle. He was in a restaurant in Medellín, and on his way back home, a car ran into him, and he collided with it. He underwent several surgeries and was on the verge of not being able to walk.
Thanks to the doctors and his strong will, the sprinter pulled through and now he is shining again. At 28 years of age, it is evident that Hodeg will be around for a long time.
Before the Pan-American, and under the direction of José Julián “Chivo” Velásquez, Álvaro was in the Tour of Hainan, in China, where he showed his great level by achieving two top-10.
Now in Uruguay, where he was directed by David Vargas and Luis Alfonso Cely, and accompanied on the road by Alejandro Osorio, Nicolas Gomez and Wilmar Paredes, Hodeg returned to the path of victory and becomes another example of overcoming and inspiration.
Colombia’s last title in this event had been in 2021, with the gold medal obtained by Nelson Soto in the Dominican Republic. In the end, the National Road Team closed with seven gold medals, a historic participation in this event.
COLOMBIA WON ITS NINTH CONSECUTIVE PANAMERICAN TITLE
The Colombian delegation, led by national coach David Vargas, won its ninth consecutive national title at the Pan American Road Championships.
Colombia added 14 medals in total (7 golds, 6 silvers and 1 bronze).
🏆Álvaro Hodeg – Elite Road Champion
🏆Walter Vargas – CRI Elite champion
🏆Juliana Londoño – elite road champion
🏆Jhonatan Guatibonza – U-23 road champion
🏆Luciana Osorio – Junior CRI champion
🏆Jerónimo Calderón – Junior CRI champion
🏆Luciana Osorio – junior road champion
🥈Rodrigo Contreras – Elite CRI runner-up
🥈Cristian Vélez – runner-up U-23 road champion
🥈Juan Diego Quintero – runner-up CRI Sub-23
🥈Yalecza Merín – junior road runner up
🥈Estefanía Castillo – junior CRI runner-up
🥈José Manuel Posada – Junior CRI runner-up
🥉Freddy Ávila – bronze CRI Sub-23
Source: Jheyner Durango Hurtado, www.elcolombiano.com