Clásico RCN

Race details
Date	October
Region	Colombia
English name	RCN Classic
Local name(s)	Clásico RCN (Spanish)
Discipline	Road race
Competition	UCI
Type	Stage race
History
First edition	1961
Editions	48 (as of 2008)
First winner	Rubén Darío Gómez (COL)
Most wins	Rafael Antonio Niño (COL) (5 wins)
Most recent	Óscar Sevilla (ESP)

The Clásico RCN (Spanish for RCN Classic) is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation.^[1]

The event is sponsored by Radio Cadena Nacional, which is one of the oldest and largest radio networks in Colombia, and by a network of Colombian business in Medellín "Empresas Públicas de Medellín".^[2] The Clásico RCN and the Vuelta a Colombia are the most important stage races in Colombia.^[3][4][5] The first event was held in 1961 and was won by Ruben Dario Gomez. Many well-known Colombian cyclists have won the event, including Martín Emilio Rodríguez, Fabio Parra, Luis Herrera and Rafael Antonio Niño.

During the 1980’s, the Clásico RCN held several "open" events in which professional cycling teams from Europe came and competed in the race.^[6] It has been written that the reason for this was for Elite professionals in Europe to get altitude training in the early season in Colombia.^[7] Some of the teams competing in the Clásico RCN during the eighties included Peugeot-Shell-Michelin, Renault-Elf-Gitane, SEM-France Loire, La Vie Claire, Zor and Reynolds^[6] which resulted in stage wins by Pascal Simon, Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault, Charly Mottet and Martial Gayant.^[8] In the 1992 edition of the Clásico RCN, the Carrera and Festina cycling teams competed where Seán Kelly, Claudio Chiappucci, Thomas Wegmuller won stages of the event.^[9]

In the history of the event, there has been two times when the overall winner was later disqualified for doping. This happened in 1971 when Álvaro Pachón Morales was disqualified, and the win was given to Rafael Antonio Niño, and also in 1991 when Pablo Emilio Wilches Tumbia was disqualified with the win going to Fabio Hernán Rodríguez Hernández.^[10] There was a tragic accident in the 1985 edition of the race when Jorge Iván Ramírez fell during a stage and died later.^[11]

Although the Clásico RCN now occurs in October, past events have taken place in March, April, May and August. It began as a two-day event, but its duration and distance were increased and, in 2000, it consisted of ten stages.

[edit] References

[edit] Past winners

Rider Team 1961 Gomez, Ruben DarioRubén Darío Gómez (COL) Camisas Jarcano 1962 Gomez, Ruben DarioRubén Darío Gómez (COL) Camisas Jarcano 1963 , Martín Emilio "Cochise" RodríguezMartín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez  (COL) Antioquia Blue Bell- Wrangler 1964 Buitrago, GabrielGabriel Buitrago (COL) Antioquia-Cuandernos Bolivaria 1965 Suarez Cueva, JesusJésus Suarez Cueva (COL) Anti oquia Suramericana 1966 Suarez Cueva, JesusJésus Suarez Cueva (COL) Antioquia Suramericana 1967 , Martín Emilio "Cochise" RodríguezMartín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez  (COL) Antioqua Wrangler-Caribu 1968 Grijalba, JairoJairo Grijalba (COL) Valle-Canada Dry 1969 Pachon Morales, AlvaroAlvaro Pachòn Morales (COL) Cundinamarca Relojes Pierce 1970 Gonzalez, OscarOscar González (COL) Pilsen 1971 Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Singer 1972 Mejia, AlbeiroAlbeiro Mejía (COL) Caribu 1973 Dios Morales, Juan deJuan de Dios Morales (COL) Singer 1974 Caceres, NorbertoNorberto Caceres (COL) Ferreteria Reina 1975 Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Banco Cafetero 1976 Jimenez Bautista, JoseJosé Jiménez Bautista (COL) Banco Cafetero 1977 Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Banco Cafetero 1978 Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Benotto 1979 Nino, Rafael AntonioRafael Antonio Niño (COL) Loteria de Boyaca 1980 Navarro, FabioFabio Navarro (COL) Perfumeria Janeth 1981 Gutierrez, ManuelManuel Gutierrez (COL) Bicicletas Ositto 1982 Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Freskola 1983 Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Isla de Aquitania 1984 Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Pilas-Varta 1985 Rodriguez, FranciscoFrancisco Rodriguez (COL) Zor 1986 Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Cafe de Colombia-Pilas Varta A 1987 Parra, FabioFabio Parra (COL) Café de Colombia 1988 Mejia, AlvaroÁlvaro Mejía (COL) Castalia 1989 Mejia, AlvaroÁlvaro Mejía (COL) Manzana Postobon 1990 Wilches, GustavoGustavo Wilches (COL) Manzana Postobon 1991 Rodriguez, FabioFabio Rodriguez (COL) Pony Malta-Avianca 1992 Camargo, AlbertoAlberto Camargo (COL) Manzana Postobon 1993 Gonzalez, Luis AlbertoLuis Alberto Gonzalez (COL) Glacial 1994 Aguirre, Julio CesarJulio César Aguirre (COL) Manzana Postobon 1995 Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) ZG Mobili Glacial 1996 Ochoa, IsraelIsrael Ochoa (COL) Glacial 1997 Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) Caprecone 1998 Montana, RaúlRaúl Montaña (COL) Aguardiente Nectar 1999 Hernandez, JairoJairo Hernández (COL) 05 Orbitel 2000 Ramírez, Juan DiegoJuan Diego Ramírez (COL) 05-Orbitel 2001 Ramírez, Juan DiegoJuan Diego Ramírez (COL) 05 Orbitel 2002 Castelblanco, JoseJosé Castelblanco (COL) Columbia Selle Italia Alc.Cabimas 2003 Castelblanco, JoseJosé Castelblanco (COL) Columbia Selle Italia Alc.Cabimas 2004 Buenahora, HernanHernán Buenahora (COL) 05 Orbitel 2005 Nino, LibardoLibardo Niño (COL) Loteria de Boyaca Coordinadora 2006 González, Javier AlbertoJavier Alberto González (COL) EPM Orbitel 2007 Nino, LibardoLibardo Niño (COL) Une Orbitel 2008 Sevilla, OscarÓscar Sevilla (ESP) Rock Racing

[edit] External links

• Official site of Clasico RCN (Spanish)