The heartfelt tribute sent by the Movistar Team for the death of Colombian cyclist Samuel Cabrera

Colombian cycling is mourning the death of Samuel Cabrera, the former cyclist who died at the age of 61 from a lightning strike that struck him while working on his farm in Pacho, Cundinamarca.

As a regrettable episode for Samuel, many have cataloged his death while he is remembered for his great sports harvests with the different teams he represented and his fierce way to race on the bike.

Coffee pedalism has opened up an important space in the history of both the country with several names, but also internationally when some of the Colombians were signed by squads from the old continent.

Although at that time there was also the time when Colombia had a great national team to go to compete in the most important rounds of Europe, which helped to make a great leap to cycling there.

Cabrera had just that luck, because in 1985 he raced with Café de Colombia- Pilas Varta and then went two seasons with the Reynolds Ts Batteries squad (86 and 87), a team that is known today as the Movistar Team of Spain and which has also been played by great names in Colombian cycling such as Nairo Quintana, Miguel Ángel López, Mauricio Soler, among others.

Currently Einer Rubio, Iván Sosa and the Antioquian cyclist Paula Patiño are part of the payroll, so for many years they have trusted Colombian talent.

In the last few hours the Iberian team remembered Samuel Cabrera with an emotional message on his Twitter account in which he says:

“From Abarca Sports, a structure for which he raced during our time as Reynolds (1986-87), we want to send a big hug to the family and friends of Samuel Cabrera, who died tragically yesterday Monday. Thank you for your quality and sympathy, 'Samy'. Until always. OF THE”. Thus remembering Cabrera in his brief passage through the squad.

Samuel was remembered by several of the cycling fans while reviving his glories when he was champion of the Vuelta a Guatemala and the Vuelta a Costa Rica. He also won a stage victory in the Vuelta Américas.

However, for the most veteran cycling fans, Samuel's participation in the major world cycling races was in itself a feat, so for many he was a great reference and one of the first to carve a path for the next generations of cyclists.

The Cundinamarquis managed to be in 6 editions of the Tour de France, finally completing 5, his best result was the 11th place in the 86′ when the North American Greg LeMond was crowned champion.

In 1989 he ran the Giro d'Italia, finishing in the 21st place, this being the only time he competed there, while in the Vuelta España he had 4 appearances although only two of them managed to finish.

Without a doubt, Colombian sport loses one of its most important veterans, but its legacy today is proudly worn by coffee growers who stand out and seek to excel in the highest level pedalism in Europe.

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