The victory of Esteban Chaves at the 2016 Il Lombardia marked the first time a Colombian rider claimed a cycling monument. Born in Bogotá on 17 January 1990, he established himself as a prominent road racer, competing professionally from 2012 through his final tenure with the UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost.
Early Career and Professional Debut
Chaves began his trajectory as an amateur, notably winning the 2011 Tour de l'Avenir in France. This achievement preceded his 2012 professional debut with the Colombia–Coldeportes team. His early professional results included stage victories at the 2012 Vuelta a Burgos and the Gran Premio Città di Camaiore in Italy. However, his progress stalled in February 2013 following a severe crash at the Trofeo Laigueglia, which resulted in significant injuries including fractures to his clavicle, cheekbone, and petrous bone.
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Transitioning to Orica–GreenEDGE in 2014, Chaves saw consistent performance improvements. During the 2015 Vuelta a España, he secured two stage wins, including the summit finish at Caminito del Rey, and briefly led the overall race. His 2016 season proved highly successful, yielding a second-place finish at the Giro d'Italia and a third-place podium spot at the Vuelta a España, culminating in his historic win at Il Lombardia.
Later Career and Team Changes
Following his breakthrough years, Chaves achieved victory at the Herald Sun Tour in 2018 and secured additional stage wins at the Giro d'Italia in 2018 and 2019. After completing eight seasons with the Orica-GreenEDGE organization, which evolved through various naming iterations, he moved to EF Education–EasyPost starting in 2022 to continue his professional road racing career.
Fast facts
- Born: 17 January 1990, Bogotá
- Professional start: 2012
- Major victory: 2016 Il Lombardia
- 2011 achievement: Won Tour de l'Avenir
- 2016 Giro d'Italia result: Second place
- 2016 Vuelta a España result: Third place
- Former team: Orica–GreenEDGE
Questions readers ask
What is Esteban Chaves's greatest victory?
His victory at the 2016 Il Lombardia is considered his most significant result, as it was the first time a Colombian cyclist won a monument.
Which teams did Chaves ride for professionally?
He rode for Colombia–Coldeportes, Orica–GreenEDGE, and EF Education–EasyPost.
