Esteban Chaves to kick off 2020 season in Colombia

2019 Giro d’Italia stage winner Esteban Chaves will begin his 2020 campaign on home soil in February as he lines-up for the Colombian Road Race Championships and the Tour of Colombia.

The 29-year-old will start the year at the National Championships in Boyacá, lining up in the time trial and road race events, before competing for the national team at the third edition of the six-day Colombian stage race.

Chaves will then head over to Europe to link back up with his Mitchelton-SCOTT teammates as attention turns to the next block of racing in the 2020 season.

Back on Track

After a testing two years, Chaves bounced back last season with an emotional victory on stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia, and ‘Chavito’ is now looking forward to building on an uninterrupted 2019 season.

“I’m really excited to start the new season,” Chaves said. “Normally when you finish the season you want to switch off before starting to build again and after a little break, you’re ready to start the new season.

“The feeling during training has been good and I want to start this year with some really good results and a good taste in the mouth, especially as last year was without interruptions.

“Also, I’m really excited to start in Colombia. It will be the first time I have represented the team in my country, I’ve never raced as professional here in Colombia, so to start the season in Colombia will be awesome.”

Something New

This will be the first time Chaves has raced the national championships since racing as a junior, and the former Il Lombardia winner is keen to get in the mix in what will be a strong domestic field.

“It will be my first national championships as a professional rider, so that will be really nice, and I want to race with the team’s colours,” Chaves explained.

“The circuit is a really, really tough one, it’s more than 200-kilometres, it’s pretty hilly and at altitude. Maybe I have a chance to go for the jersey, but there are a lot of strong riders here, with strong teams, while I will be on my own. So it’s a bit of a lottery, but I will be ready and you never know.”

Chaves will round-up his time in South America with Tour Colombia 2.1 where the 29-year-old will ride in front of his family, friends and fans on home roads.

“It’s also my first time at the Tour of Colombia, and I’m pretty excited because this year the race will finish in my hometown and on my home training roads,” Chaves said. “I know all of the last two stages like the back of my hand, so it’s pretty exciting.

“My family and friends will be there, plus racing in the national team colours is a special feeling. I can’t wait, it will be a really good experience and Colombian cycling is getting bigger every year and to be part of this generation of riders is amazing.”

Colombian Road Race Championships:

• Thursday, 30th January: Time Trial
• Sunday, 2nd February: Road Race

2020 Tour Colombia 2.1:

• Tuesday, 11th February: Stage 1 (TT), Tunja – Tunja, 16.7km
• Wednesday 12th February: Stage 2, Paipa – Duitana, 152.4km
• Thursday 13th February: Stage 3, Paipa – Sogamoso, 177.7km
• Friday 14th February: Stage 4, Paipa – Santa Rosa de Viterbo, 168.6km
• Saturday 15th February: Stage 5, Paipa – Zipaquira, 174.9km
• Sunday 16th February, Stage 6, Zipquira – El Once, 182.6km