In an uninhabited high at 2,600 meters and that joins the mountains of Argentina that border the Andes, Miguel Ángel ‘Supermán’ López takes revenge. He throws his legs and his rage, also the shirt that he wears for the second division team (Medellín), spreads class through the cold mountain range and is crowned in Colorado. The Colombian, investigated in Spain in an alleged doping plot by the doctor Marcos Maynar, thus takes revenge on the beards of leading figures, such as Remco Evenepoel, defeated, Egan Bernal, on the rise, or Filippo Ganna, a superclass with much more on his legs than time trials. ‘Supermán’ is the virtual winner of the Vuelta a San Juan that ends this Sunday.
López has spent a week facing the public in San Juan. Without shying away from conversation, kind by force, but distrustful due to the circumstances, opaque in his responses and firm in his defense of a clean athlete. He agrees to talk to anyone who comes near the six white chairs that the organization provides to the teams.
Yours, Medellín, establishes bridges to facilitate the work of journalists. It does not hide the protagonist of the last schism in cycling. Óscar Sevilla speaks normally about what he lives with his new partner and he has memorized a characteristic speech: nothing to do with it, here I am, I never tested positive, everything in order, clean cyclist…
“I see him enjoying himself,” the Spanish Sevilla said this Saturday. At breakfast we were all joking, he the same, and motivating the group to do what we have done today. A great joy for him because he is in a process, let’s say mysterious ».
López does not usually contain himself. It is a type of character, always in favor of the will and not stay with the desire. Old-fashioned cyclist, impulsive and fierce. One of the most effective finishers in the peloton.
On the climb to Alto del Colorado, Remco Evenepoel proposes a monologue in accordance with the forecasts. There was no more favorite than him, so shiny his rainbow jersey, so powerful the little prince. Remco attacks nine kilometers away and a chorus opens up about his advance. There is the burning talent, the majesty of him the Belgian.
It happens that Ineos owns a superlative power. Ganna is capable of anything with her almost 90 kilos, remember Induráin’s plant, and annul Remco’s attempt. That’s where Egan Bernal walks in survival mode. And more Colombians, Higuita and Rubio, on the lookout.
But nobody has the determination of ‘Supermán’, who has prepared himself with the mountain bike, in his native Pesca, with his wife and children in this difficult period. Alone against the world.
“I don’t have any revenge message for my previous team,” the Colombian explains later. I only say that I am here and that I like to give fire ».
López tries it twice and the second time he breaks everyone, he breaks Remco who falls off the hook, displaces Bernal. And only Ganna takes up the chase. The giant from Verbania also yields to the will of ‘Supermán’, who climbs to victory, his second with Medellín, and to the leadership of the test that this Sunday ends with his victory in San Juan.
“This is very nice, I dedicate it to my wife and my children, who always supported me, and to the Medellín team, we are small, but very motivated,” says ‘Supermán’.
