Nairo Quintana put together a marvelous run through the 2013 Tour de France.
A race that holds 21 grueling yet unique stages spanning from Porto-Vecchio all the way to Versailles, each participant must endure the twists, turns and hills of one of the most physically demanding events in sports.
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Thanks to a brilliant second place finish at the recent event, 23-year-old Nairo Quintana will surely rise to fame and glory in his native Colombia. As the youngster continues to celebrate his achievements, here's 5 things to know about this rising talent.
1. Quintana Was Born in Colombia
Born on February 4th, 1990 in Combita, Colombia, Nairo Quintana's affinity for cycling began at an early age. Due to the fact that his childhood school was 9 miles from his home, Quintana's father bought him a bike to make his travels easier.
Busing to school was an early option but because he had four siblings, finances for bus transportation were too steep, so the young Nairo learned to ride his bike, an act that turned out to be well worth the $30 his father spent at the time!
2. Nairo's First Professional Win Came In 2010
Claiming the 2010 Tour de l'Avenir -- a French race similar to the Tour de France -- Nairo Quintana would begin growing into a formidable force in professional racing. Dominating Stages 6 and 7 in the 2010 race, Quintana showed his remarkable ability to balance speed with his uphill ability en route to the victory.
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3. Second Place Finish At 2013 Tour de France Is Highest Finish By Colombian
Winning the final mountain stage at the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana propelled himself to a second place finish at the 21-stage event, the highest finish by a Colombian. Accomplishing a feat that also saw him earn multiple jerseys, Quintana completed the tremendous act on Colombia's Independence Day.
4. 23-Year-Old Awarded White Jersey For Top Young Rider
In addition to his second place finish, the young Quintana took home the coveted White Jersey, awarded to the Tour de France top young rider. With the honor, Quintana becomes only the third Colombian to take home the jersey, joining Fabio Parra (1985) and Alvaro Mejia (1991).
5. Becomes Fourth Colombian To Win King of the Mountains Jersey
Another highly coveted jersey is the Polka Dot jersey given to the Tour de France King of the Mountains winner. Brining the jersey back home to Colombia, Quintana becomes the fourth Colombian to win the honor along with Luis Herrera (1985, 1987), Santiago Botero (2000) and Mauricio Soler (2007).
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