In Fernando Gaviria's mind, there was only one clear shot at glory on this Tour Colombia. In a race deep in the heart of mountain country, the flat, opening leg to Duitama provided the only firm guarantee for the fast men.
Small wonder, then, that the finale to stage 1 was so frantic. Mark Cavendish's Astana-Qazaqstan train did their best to take control in the rain-slicked final kilometre, but they were swamped within sight of the line. Although Cavendish and company spent the past three weeks training at altitude, the effects of competing at 2,500 metres above sea level were surely still a factor here.
