Bicycling in Colombia: The Development of a National Passion

Abstract

The introduction of the bicycle to Colombia in the 1890s provided a new method of transportation and quickly became the foundation of a new sport, road racing. Over the last fifty years, Colombian bikers have successfully competed in national and European bicycle races such as the Vuelta de Colombia, Giro de Italia, and the Tour de France. After reviewing current historiography on Colombian cycling, this essay traces the history of the bicycleâs introduction into the country and explores the reasons why it has become, after fútbol, Colombiaâs most popular sport.