The 2013 season has provided many great stories, but the renaissance of Colombian cycling is among the best.
The love of the south American people for their cycling heroes is unquestioned and the new generation of riders has achievements to match the heroes of the past.
After Nairo Quintana’s hugely successful Tour de France, Darwin Atapuma stepped up in Poland to claim the national team’s first WorldTour victory.
Significantly, two other Colombians finished in the top 10 of the gruelling sixth stage, and one of them, Team Sky’s Sergio Henao, is fourth overall, just 24 seconds off the lead.
Dave Brailsford’s squad will part company with half of its Colombian contingent at the end of the season when Rigoberto Uran joins Omega Pharma-QuickStep.
Should he decide another Colombian should take Uran’s place, he will be spoiled for choice.
Enjoy this gallery of all the action from stage six, captured through the lens of Stefano Sirotti.
