The only Colombian to have worn the yellow jersey at the Tour de France ( while riding for US Postal), 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Victor Hugo Peña thought his career was close to an end following the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:fiasco of Rock Racing, but he is back in business on the European scene with newly-promoted Pro Continental team 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Colombia ès Pasꦡion-Café de Colombia.

He spoke to Cyclingnews after 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:stage 4 of the Presidential Tou𒁃r of Turke🙈y.

“This has been one of𓆉 the hardest days in my cycling career. I suffered at 120%. As far as I remember, only the stage up to the Anglirù a♏t the 2000 Vuelta a España, when it was wet and slippery, was harder," the Colombian commented.

Starting with a climb from the coastal town of Marmaris, the🌞 race was made difficult by the rain, the terrain to reach the world her𒈔itage site of Pamukkale and some road works.

“On days of racing like this, you needꦆ a lot of motivation for to race,” Peña said.

“As long as I’m a rider, I never complain. I’m hap𒁃py to still be able to do that on a bike. I’ve never lost motivation for cycling."

“After my years with Vitalicio, US Postal, Phonak and Unibet, I sometimes thought my career was coming to an end because Rock Racing wanted to becomeꩵ a Pro Continental team and it didn’t happen. It was hard for me to be out of the E🅠uropean cycling scene in 2007 but I got the call last year to bring my experience to this Colombian team and I’m extremely happy to be here again.”

Peña returne💝d to the old continent for the Volta aꦍ Catalunya at the end of March and took part in a few Spanish races before heading to Turkey.

“It’s fant♌astic to see cycling happening in any part of the world, like here, Argentina or Chile, where there’s not the same big tradition for the sport as in Europe or Colombia”, he said. “One of our big goals this year is to win the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China in July. We’ll take our young climbers there.” Among them is last year’s winner of the Tour de l’Avenir, Nairo Quintana.

“I’m here to help develop,” Peña stated. “I still have dreams for myself. For example, I’d like to win the Tour of Colombia before I retire. It’s going to be difficult but why not. I want to keep racing for a few more years. I’m not the oldest rider in the peloton. Andrea No&🥀egrave; is here at the Tour of Turkey at the age of 42 and he doesn’t look bored. Alessandro Petacchi is the same age as me a🔯nd he won today. He doesn’t look old!”

Sooner or later, however, Peña will end his racing career in order to become a directeur spor𒆙tif.

“T♕here’s a long history between Colombia and the Tour de France, I want to keep this history running,” he said. “We want to bring this team to the Tour de France by 2014. It would be great to do it in 2013, jus𝓰t ten years after I had the yellow jersey. It would be a nice symbol for the 110th anniversary of the race.”

The 2013 edition of the Grande Boucle will also 🍌🅰be the 100th edition.