Fernando Gaviria

By CyclingWeekly Staff

last updated 19 May 2021

Fernando Gaviria wins Stage 3 of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico from Caleb Ewen.

Nationality: Columbian

Date of birth: August 19, 1994

Height: 180cm

Weight: 70kg

Team: Quick-Step Floors

Twitter: @FndoGaviria

Columbian rider Fernando Gaviria has been touted as ‘the next Mark Cavendish’, with comparisons drawn between him and the Manx man based on physique and sprinting style.

Gaviria garnered attention on the world stage after beating Cavendish in the final sprint at two stages of the 2015 Tour de San Luis. During the 2016 edition of the same race, he beat Peter Segan to the line on stage two.

He was eventually signed by Etixx Quick-Step – now Quick-Step Floors – and rode for them during a very successful 2017 Giro d’Italia. The Colombian took everyone by surprise after Bob Jungels and his other team mates ushered him through some intense cross winds on stage three to secure the maglia rosa. Though he didn't maintain the pink jersey, he gained more sprint wins on stage five, stage twelve and stage thirteen- claiming an overall win of the points jersey.

The sprint specialist’s career began on the track, where he won the omnium and madison events in the 2012 Junior World Track events.

He didn’t leave the boards behind completely for the road, taking the omnium title at the 2016 UCI track Word Championships – a feat he also achieved in 2015.

Whilst success on the road in 2015 caught the attention of several teams, he chose to ride for the Colombian national team that year.

Towards the end of the year, Gaviria made his debut ride for Cavendish’s own team at the time – Etixx-Quck Step, at the RideLondon-Surrey Classic.

There, he finished eighth – before going on the race to the win at the Czech Cycling Tour. Then at the Tour of Britain, the young rider took another win, beating André Greipel and Elia Viviani.

Fernando Gaviria wins stage four of the 2015 Tour of Britain

Gaviria continued to ride for Etixx-Quick Step in 2016, where he won his first World Tour level race – stage three of Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as the UCI Track World Championships omnium.

The 2017 season has begun well, with another Tirreno-Adriatico win – this time in the final of stage six.

He also claimed the first stage of Volta ao Algave, along with fifth place at Milan-San Remo and a top ten position at Gent-Wevelgem where he finished ninth.

At the 2018 Tour de France, Gaviria won two stages before abandoning on stage 12, missing the time cut alongside several of his sprint rivals.

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

Fernando Gaviria makes his comeback with sprint win on stage three of Tour of Poland 2021

The Colombian sprint has been winless since September last year

By Alex Ballinger Published 11 August 21
Fernando Gaviria sprinted without a saddle in finale of Giro d'Italia 2021 stage 13

The Colombian was the first of the fast men to open up his sprint before eventual winner Giacomo Nizzolo came around to win

By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published 21 May 21

Mark Cavendish ‘over the moon’ at Gaviria’s arrival

With rumours abound that Etixx - Quick-Step see Fernando Gaviria as a replacement for Mark Cavendish, the Manxman denies he's disgruntled about the signing

By Stuart Clarke Published 25 February 15
Fernando Gaviria takes first victory of season at Vuelta a San Juan

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) took his first victory of 2018 as he won the opening stage of the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 22 January 18
Fernando Gaviria's spring campaign interrupted by heavy crash

Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria spends night in hospital for medical checks after crashing heavily in the Vuelta a San Juan

By Gregor Brown Published 25 January 18

Fernando Gaviria edges out Peter Sagan in Tirreno-Adriatico stage six

Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria took a narrow victory in the sixth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, edging out two-time world champion Peter Sagan.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 13 March 17
Richeze and Gavira seal Etixx-Quick Step one-two on Tour de Suisse stage four

Maximiliano Richeze and Fernando Gaviria thwart Peter Sagan's bid for a third successive stage win at the Tour de Suisse

By Stuart Clarke Published 14 June 16
Fernando Gaviria has been released from UAE after coronavirus diagnosis

Fernando Gaviria is finally free to leave the UAE after he contracted coronavirus.

By Alex Ballinger Published 27 March 20

Fernando Gaviria powers to victory in Tour of Britain stage four sprint finish

Etixx - Quick-Step stagiaire took the win ahead of seasoned sprinters André Greipel and Edvald Boasson Hagen on the finish into Blyth

By Richard Windsor Published 9 September 15
Fernando Gaviria confirms he has coronavirus

Fernando Gaviria has confirmed he has coronavirus.

By Alex Ballinger Published 12 March 20
Fernando Gaviria's future with team still unclear, says Quick-Step Floors boss Patrick Lefevere

Quick-Step Floors boss Patrick Lefevere says the future of young star sprinter Fernando Gaviria remains unclear.

By Alex Ballinger Published 16 October 18

Fernando Gaviria set to miss Tour de France through injury

The Colombian will miss this year's Tour after taking the yellow jersey on stage one in 2018

By Jonny Long Published 24 June 19
Fernando Gaviria signs for Etixx – Quick-Step

Mark Cavendish's nemesis at the Tour de San Luis, Fernando Gaviria, signs with Etixx - Quick-Step, along with Colombian climber Rodrigo Contreras

By Stuart Clarke Published 24 February 15
Fernando Gaviria sets his sights on Paris-Roubaix

Could Fernando Gaviria become the first South American to win Paris-Roubaix? The Colombian says he would love to challenge himself on the cobbles in years to come

By Stuart Clarke Published 21 January 16

Fernando Gaviria wins 2016 Paris-Tours with well-timed solo sprint

Fernando Gaviria sprints from around 600m out to catch his rivals by surprise and solo to the win at Paris-Tours

By Stuart Clarke Published 9 October 16
Fernando Gaviria continues dream Grand Tour debut with third win at Giro d'Italia on stage 12

Fernando Gaviria sprinted to victory on the Giro d'Italia's longest stage and holds on to the purple points jersey

By Richard Windsor Published 18 May 17
Fernando Gaviria requires surgery on broken hand from Tirreno-Adriatico crash; out of Milan-San Remo

Fernando Gaviria is out of this Saturday's Milan-San Remo after fracturing his hand in a crash at the end of stage six of Tirreno-Adriatico.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 12 March 18

Fernando Gaviria out of Tour de San Luis with fractured arm

Etixx-Quick Step sprinter Fernando Gaviria went down in a crash on stage five of the Tour de San Luis and will not start stage six

By Jack Elton-Walters Published 23 January 16
Fernando Gaviria’s new landlord Alessandro Petacchi says Colombian is ‘new Peter Sagan’

Fernando Gaviria is to move into an apartment owned by Alessandro Petacchi, who described the Colombian as the next Peter Sagan

By Chris Marshall-Bell Published 8 February 17
UAE Team Emirates confirm signing of Fernando Gaviria from Quick-Step Floors

Colombian leaves Quick-Step after three years

By Richard Windsor Published 25 October 18

Fernando Gaviria sprints ahead of Caleb Ewan to win stage three of Tirreno-Adriatico 2016

Fernando Gaviria took his first WorldTour win on the third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico as Zdenek Stybar held on to the overall lead

By Richard Windsor Published 11 March 16
Fernando Gaviria a non-starter at Paris-Roubaix after being taken ill overnight

The Colombian sprinter was an outside bet to win today's race

By Jonny Long Published 14 April 19
Caleb Ewan: I'll have more rivals in my career than just Fernando Gaviria

Orica-Scott's Caleb Ewan believes that he will have more sprinting rivals throughout his career than just Fernando Gaviria; he also confirmed he will not be racing at the World Championships.

By Chris Marshall-Bell Published 4 September 17

Tour de San Luis: Fernando Gaviria wins stage two

Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria shows a clean pair of heels to his rivals to take the stage win and overall lead in Argentina

By Nigel Wynn Published 19 January 16
Fernando Gaviria 'relaxed and enjoying every race' after move to UAE Team Emirates

Fernando Gaviria says he is “relaxed and enjoying every race” with his new UAE Team Emirates squad after a sudden move at the end of 2018.

By Alex Ballinger Published 23 February 19
Fernando Gaviria abandons Giro d’Italia 2019

Fernando Gaviria has abandoned the Giro d’Italia on stage seven.

By Alex Ballinger Published 17 May 19

Fernando Gaviria unleashes powerful sprint to take second stage win at Giro d'Italia

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won stage five of the Giro d'Italia to take his second stage win of the race, as team-mate Bob Jungels safely retained the pink jersey.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 10 May 17
‘It was a special stage - last year I went home in an ambulance’: Fernando Gaviria takes second Vuelta a San Juan glory

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.

By Alex Ballinger Published 31 January 19
Fernando Gaviria beats Mark Cavendish to take Tour de San Luis opener

20-year-old Colombian rider Fernando Gaviria out-paces Mark Cavendish and Sacha Modolo to win the first stage of the Tour de San Luis

By Gregor Brown Published 19 January 15

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Fernando Gaviria

Fernando Gaviria frustrated as gearing issue stops him from fully sprinting on Giro d'Italia stage five

Fernando Gaviria makes his comeback with sprint win on stage three of Tour of Poland 2021

Fernando Gaviria sprinted without a saddle in finale of Giro d'Italia 2021 stage 13

Mark Cavendish ‘over the moon’ at Gaviria’s arrival

Fernando Gaviria takes first victory of season at Vuelta a San Juan

Fernando Gaviria's spring campaign interrupted by heavy crash

Fernando Gaviria edges out Peter Sagan in Tirreno-Adriatico stage six

Richeze and Gavira seal Etixx-Quick Step one-two on Tour de Suisse stage four

Fernando Gaviria has been released from UAE after coronavirus diagnosis

Fernando Gaviria powers to victory in Tour of Britain stage four sprint finish

Fernando Gaviria confirms he has coronavirus

Fernando Gaviria's future with team still unclear, says Quick-Step Floors boss Patrick Lefevere

Fernando Gaviria set to miss Tour de France through injury

Fernando Gaviria signs for Etixx – Quick-Step

Fernando Gaviria sets his sights on Paris-Roubaix

Fernando Gaviria wins 2016 Paris-Tours with well-timed solo sprint

Fernando Gaviria continues dream Grand Tour debut with third win at Giro d'Italia on stage 12

Fernando Gaviria requires surgery on broken hand from Tirreno-Adriatico crash; out of Milan-San Remo

Fernando Gaviria out of Tour de San Luis with fractured arm

Fernando Gaviria’s new landlord Alessandro Petacchi says Colombian is ‘new Peter Sagan’

UAE Team Emirates confirm signing of Fernando Gaviria from Quick-Step Floors

Fernando Gaviria sprints ahead of Caleb Ewan to win stage three of Tirreno-Adriatico 2016

Fernando Gaviria a non-starter at Paris-Roubaix after being taken ill overnight

Caleb Ewan: I'll have more rivals in my career than just Fernando Gaviria

Tour de San Luis: Fernando Gaviria wins stage two

Fernando Gaviria 'relaxed and enjoying every race' after move to UAE Team Emirates

Fernando Gaviria abandons Giro d’Italia 2019

Fernando Gaviria unleashes powerful sprint to take second stage win at Giro d'Italia

‘It was a special stage - last year I went home in an ambulance’: Fernando Gaviria takes second Vuelta a San Juan glory

Fernando Gaviria beats Mark Cavendish to take Tour de San Luis opener