Edwin Avila thread

[gospina]

Didn't find a thread, I figured I start one. 24 year old Colombian, who I think its going to have an amazing career. Already 2 time track world champion in the points race (2011 in Netherlands & 2014 in Colombia), Edwin has had a very good 2013 as his first season. He ended up doing the Giro even though the longest race for him before that was 8 days and not only did he finish, but several times he was right in the mix and got over many mountains that other sprinters could not. He is very fast and I feel is a dark-horse for some stages at this years Giro. In a few years, maybe the points jersey, ala Hushov..getting all the intermediate sprints on mountain stages .
Very likable character too.

 

[gospina]

2014 UCI Track world championship, Points Race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwFl5DnK1Hw

 

[Ruudz0r]

He was very impressive in the points race. Hopefully he fully focusses on the road now, Im curious as well what he can do.
He also went really well (for a sprinter in preparation for the track) in San Luis on both the climb finishes (place 21 and 31).

I dont see him reach the top though but I think he can have a very respectable career on the road.

 

[mewmewmew13]

You wouldn't know it from the race report but Avila had a great day here last summer!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-challenge-2013/stage-6/results

I went to see the start! it was a hot day..elevation change was huge going up and doing a loop high and then back down into the heat.

I got a great pic of Ed Avila before the start..he was eating in the loaner van that a friend's business donated to provide support for the Columbian team..I stopped by to say hi..and he graciously posed for the pic with me

 

[gospina]

You wouldn't know it from the race report but Avila had a great day here last summer!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-challenge-2013/stage-6/results

I went to see the start! it was a hot day..elevation change was huge going up and doing a loop high and then back down into the heat.

I got a great pic of Ed Avila before the start..he was eating in the loaner van that a friend's business donated to provide support for the Columbian team..I stopped by to say hi..and he graciously posed for the pic with me

Very nice pic! He usually doesn't show up on the reports, but always seems to be in top 10 finishes on rolling sprint stages. Like Ruudz0r mentioned, he will need to focus more on road to see his potential. He is one of the few road riders at this level that still participates in track events. I know that the British riders wanted to do this but many were kind of forbidden due to their road stock being so high. Avila doesn't have that issue (yet)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

avila is amazing talent with even more amazing engine. a guy that is 169 and 64 kg that destroys 80kg+ guys. both wc's he won were very impressive and the recent one the most as he lapped the group 3x!! of which one time he did solo. also in general best points race I've ever seen and worth checking out on youtube also for the tremendous crowd response.

avila and a bit lesser arango show that not trained by corti makes a world of difference as now they trained under colombian track team with jose velasquez. I hope he has something left for season un europe because initial plan was always with avila to go the "wiggins" way by making him lose weight as he's already a very good climber with a tremendous kick. he's not really a sprinter but all his racing on track made him very fast. and being part of pursuit team for years also gives him an edge in timetrialing. in general and I've said this last year as well he is one of the few riders in coldeportes that could become great, even if riding and training under corti makes it hard. but one luck already this past winter he trained in colombia. I think he would be most suited for the classics though

 

[gospina]

I agree with the classics type of event. He reminds me a bit of Oscar Freire. A small type of roulleur, very good at small to medium mountains, good sprint, good for one day type of races. He has shown that he can do a GT as well, though. Looking forward to this year

 

[Bushman]

Really impressive points race from his. He looks like a great talent, will be following him a lot in the future.

 

[aarononymous]

You wouldn't know it from the race report but Avila had a great day here last summer!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-challenge-2013/stage-6/results

I believe that was the stage that he tried to break away within the last few km's, got caught up and still managed to contest the sprint. Pretty impressive.

 

[ILovecycling]

Amazing guy!I just want to congratulate him for the track medal.Great effort,I wonder how he will do in Giro this year

 

[gospina]

When he was 21 in the Netherlands, he was an unknown, unmarked rider. His world championship was considered a 'fluke'.
Now at 24, he was the marked man in Cali. He still managed to get 3 laps and re-affirmed his 2011 win.