All the teams of the first division of cycling (UCI World Tour) that are going to compete in the Tour of San Juan in Argentina stay at the Del Bono Park hotel, a five-star hotel on the outskirts of the capital San Juan with its spa for holiday and its pool to mitigate the suffocating heat of the Creole summer, its convention room, its neat restaurant, its free Wi-Fi… The stars of the peloton that attend the presentation of the test (Egan Bernal, Evenepoel, Sagan, Gaviria…) come down directly from their rooms to the room where the local governor, the Argentine health minister and a packed auditorium share sweat and enthusiasm for the bicycle heroes. Miguel Ángel ‘Supermán’ López, who was one of those stars until a few months ago, arrives from another hotel with fewer stars, in a small team utility vehicle (Medellín, in the third division, where he now plays), without much desire to speak and with a brown cap that covers part of his gaze in that stuffy atmosphere. Due to an investigation by the Spanish Civil Guard that has linked him to an alleged doping plot with Dr. Marcos Maynar at the helm directing and attracting clients from the University of Extremadura, ‘Supermán’ López no longer seems like a cycling star, very much his regret. He is a marked runner and that in the pack is equivalent to a second plate. Related news standard Non-cycling La Vuelta 2023: Angliru, Tourmalet and queen stage with 10 third-class ports José Carlos Carabias standard Non-cycling Tears from Alejandro Valverde in the transfer of power to Enric Mas in Movistar José Carlos Carabias The Colombian arrives in the hall from the hotel and waits at the bottom of the stairs with a trusted person of Giovanni Lombardi, his former manager, who is also the strong man of the Tour of San Juan. He appears with Óscar Sevilla, the 46-year-old Spanish cyclist who happily greets journalists and tells of his life in Colombia, where he has been a fellow countryman for a decade. «I don’t know Miguel Ángel very well -explains the veteran runner born in Ossa de Montiel, who continues with the same childish face-, but together we are going to ensure that he finds himself in a comfortable and positive environment. In Colombia he is an idol ». ‘Supermán’, of course, is not seated by the organization in the central chairs during the presentation of the Vuelta a San Juan. They are occupied by Evenepoel, Bernal, Sagan, Ganna and Higuita. From a corner, with his cap, the first words of the Boyacá cyclist, formerly of Astana and Movistar, are heard. He talks about “doing it well, motivation and desire,” a mantra that he will repeat in his subsequent conversation with ABC. Worried face Miguel Ángel López appears worried, to say the least. The grim gesture says one thing, the words go elsewhere. How is he? The first question flies. “Well, well, motivated, eager to start the season here in Argentina, enjoying every moment of the race in San Juan and counting on my opportunities”, replied the Latin American. His life has changed at a stroke. His contracts were measured in millions as winner of the queen stage in the Tour, podium in the Tour of Spain and in the Giro d’Italia (third in both), thirty victories for a top-level auctioneer, in turn a type of character, protagonist of one of the documentaries of ‘The least thought day’ of the Movistar team for his fright in the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España 2021 in Galicia. How has he lived these turbulent months? «Well, let’s say that we start the year with a lot of motivation, a new team, new illusions, new projections and here we are, to enjoy. I believe that this is the most important thing, surround yourself with people who contribute to you, who give you confidence, and that is why we are here », he replies, trying to erase the negative lures. ‘Supermán’ has not found a place in the elite of cycling, no team has wanted to risk a future jeopardized by legal action. Isn’t racing in Medellín a step back in his career? «No, not at all, for me it is not a step backwards. For me it is getting to share with people, share with my people in Colombia, I have done it for many careers and many years. Let’s say that this challenge is to recharge myself with energy, positivity, new illusions and to be able to enjoy ». The cyclist tries to appear forced normality. How has this case affected you on a personal level? «I am good, motivated, I have said it before. Along with Sevilla, we are going to do things well in this team, he has a lot of experience in this race we are facing, the Vuelta a San Juan. He has been on the podium several times, so we can do very well, we have a good team and, above all, we have the desire, which is what is important. Hoping that he can get good results, we must take into account that the rivals are also preparing, we have a lot of respect for them and I hope to do well ». The future It is probable that the head of the Investigating Court number 4 of Cáceres summons the cyclist to testify. On January 25, Dr. Maynar will testify, and on February 1, Vicente Belda and his son, a former Astana masseur, both investigated in the drug trafficking network. Do you envision a complicated future because of what has happened in Spain? «No, I think I won’t have any complications because here I am, enjoying my profession and running, which is what I like the most. So here we are. With enthusiasm, with desire, with beautiful memories of what Sevilla achieved for Medellín, and with the desire to do things well. Outside of recordings, ‘Supermán’ recalls another cycling mantra. He never tested positive, and there are no slips in his biological passport, so he can compete with any license. He feels uneasy when he remembers the Astana leaders, who he assures have neglected him. ‘Supermán’ leaves, greets Pablo Lastras, his former director at Movistar, they joke and laugh, an oasis among so much tension. He is no longer with the stars and a complex future looms around him.
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