‘It was a special stage - last year I went home in an ambulance’: Fernando Gaviria takes second Vuelta a San Juan glory
The Colombian powerhouse has had a picture-perfect start with his new team


Sprint star Fernando Gaviria made a big statement with his second stage win at the Vuelta a San Juan, having crashed out on the same roads one year ago.
The Colombian has moved to UAE Team Emirates from Quick-Step but is not showing any signs of rust after the switch.
Gaviria took his second glory of the week on stage four, after being released in perfect position by team-mate Simone Consonni and holding off Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
The victory came 12 months after Gaviria left the Argentinian stage race in an ambulance on the same stage, crashing 45km from the finish.
>>> ‘It’s just a jersey’: Sagan says pressure still the same even without rainbow bands
After his success on Wednesday (January 30), the 24-year-old said: “It was a special stage because one year ago I went home in an ambulance.
“It’s great to win a second time here, paying back the work of the team who fought those other teams and helped me for the sprint finish.
“It was a high-level sprint against serious rivals like Sagan and [Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Alvaro] Hodeg.
“The team was perfect in the approach of the last corner, then Consonni was very good at launching me.”
Gaviria also took victory on stage one, his first race day of the 2019 season.
He has now won his opening race of the season every year since 2015.
>>> Deceuninck – Quick-Step miss Vuelta a San Juan podium ceremony amid Iljo Keisse controversy
Many sprinters take time to settle into a new set-up, particularly when leaving one as dominant as Quick-Step.
German sprinter Marcel Kittel left the Belgian outfit ahead of the 2018 season to join Katusha-Alpecin, and failed to pick up his first victory until Tirreno-Adriatico in March last year.
Australian Caleb Ewan is the latest top-shelf sprinter to switch teams, leaving Mitchelton-Scott for Lotto-Soudal.
After getting off to a blistering start in the pre-WorldTour criteriums in Australia, Ewan crossed the line first on stage five of the Tour Down Under.
But the 24-year-old was stripped of the win for headbutting in the final, leaving him without a win at the highest level.
Gaviria has not been hit with the same sprinter’s drought, his double San Juan victories making an emphatic statement in the early season.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Check out Ellen van Dijk’s bike for today's hour record attempt
Built not just for speed, Trek’s after another spot in the pantheon of iconic hour bikes
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Best of the rest day tweets: Van der Poel starts a culinary war, riders top up their tans, and EOLO have a dance
We will make it through today, I promise
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Fernando Gaviria frustrated as gearing issue stops him from fully sprinting on Giro d'Italia stage five
UAE-Team Emirates rider has to settle for second in Messina
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Maybe I am out of my comfort zone' — Tadej Pogačar ahead of his first Tour of Flanders
Two-time Tour de France winner says it is going to be a "crazy race" on Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
João Almeida victorious on top of Boí Taüll on stage four of the Volta a Catalunya
UAE Team Emirates rider wins stage, but Nairo Quintana moves into leader's jersey
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar wins Strade Bianche with stunning solo attack
The UAE Team Emirates rider becomes the first Tour de France winner to win the Italian classic
By Pete Trifunovic • Published
-
Matteo Trentin sprints from the front to win Le Samyn
Italian rider triumphs out of leading group on tough day in Belgium
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Having a team like this gives you goosebumps': Pogačar credits team after UAE Tour triumph
Slovenian takes control of leader's jersey after stage four
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar 'pretty happy' with fourth place in UAE Tour time trial
The Slovenian sits fifth on general classification after three stages
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Nonconformist' Marc Hirschi 'makes cycling spectacular' and will return to previous levels after injury setbacks
The Swiss rider will start his season later due hip surgery, the injury that has troubled him for three years
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published