Rodríguez's debut

The Cundinamarca rider Juan Felipe Rodríguez, 22, became this Saturday the national representative number 134 in the Vuelta a España. Rodríguez belongs to EF Education and has just been promoted to the main roster of the WorldTour team.

The Colombian delegation

Besides Rodríguez, the delegation consists of five riders: Juan Guillermo Martínez of Team Picnic PostNL (the youngest at 21); Iván Ramiro Sosa of Kern Pharma; Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain; and Harold Tejada of Astana. None of the last four has won a stage in the Vuelta.

Colombia’s Vuelta history

Colombia has left its mark in the Vuelta since 1974, when Giovanni Jiménez Ocampo opened the doors. In 52 years of presence, two escarabajos have been champions: Luis Herrera in 1987 and Nairo Quintana in 2016. Others came close: Fabio Parra runner-up in 1989, Francisco Rodríguez and Óscar de Jesús Vargas in 1989, Esteban Chaves in 2016 and Miguel López in 2018, finishing third.

Stage victories and mountain classification

So far, 24 Colombians have won 39 stage victories. The first was Antonio Agudelo on 30 April 1985, winning the seventh stage between Cangas de Onís and Alto Campoo. The most recent win was by Egan Bernal on 9 September 2025, in the stage between Poio and Mos/Castro de Herville, 167.9 km.

Team classification and red jersey

Colombia has also won the mountain classification on several occasions: Lucho Herrera (1987-1991), Óscar de Jesús Vargas (1989), Martín Farfán (1990) and Félix Cárdenas (2003-2004). In 1987, Ryalcao-Postobón became the first and only Colombian team to win the team classification. Red jerseys have been worn by Martín Farfán, Omar Hernández, Santiago Botero, Esteban Chaves, Darwin Atapuma and Miguel Ángel López.

Darwin Atapuma and the opportunity

For Darwin Atapuma, the Vuelta a España holds a special place. The former rider, 38, recalls wearing the red leader’s jersey for four days in 2016. In an interview with EL COLOMBIANO, Atapuma highlighted that the race is very suitable for Colombians because of its high mountain content and that he believes the five young riders can perform very well.

Message of work and mindset

Atapuma stressed that competing requires more than talent: work, preparation and mindset. “The sport’s evolution is not only about technology but also how we train and mental strength,” he said. He also noted that technology alone does not guarantee results if not used properly.

Frequently asked questions

  • Who is Juan Felipe Rodríguez and which team rides the Vuelta a España? Rodríguez is a 22-year-old Cundinamarca rider who debuted in the Vuelta as Colombia's 134th representative after moving to the main roster of EF Education.
  • Which Colombians are racing the Vuelta a España this edition? The national squad includes five riders: Rodríguez (EF Education), Juan Guillermo Martínez (Team Picnic PostNL), Iván Ramiro Sosa (Kern Pharma), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain) and Harold Tejada (Astana).
  • Who was the first Colombian to compete in the Vuelta a España? Giovanni Jiménez Ocampo, a Medellín native, was the national pioneer, taking the start in the 1974 edition and withdrawing during the ninth stage between Madrid and Los Ángeles de San Rafael.