Movistar Team climber Andrey Amador made history on Saturday as he finished 14^th on the 14^th stage of the Giro D’Italia, which was a time-trial race from Treviso to Valdobbiadene in the northeast region of Italy. Despite the rainy conditions, the star cyclist from Costa Rica surprised everyone as he moved to third place on the Giro, just 3:36 behind the legendary Spanish rider Alberto Contador.

 

According to a report by sports journalist Fanny Tayver of national newspaper La Nacion, Mr. Amador had promised the people of Costa Rica that he was in a good position to make the country prod at the Giro D’Italia. Mr. Amador knew that the rain-soaked time trial was his opportunity to improve his ranking, and he finished with a personal best of 1:19:40, and he came in one place ahead of Mr. Amador, who is widely considered one of the best riders in the world.

 

Mr. Amador spoke to La Nacion after the time trial stage; he explained that the Giro is far from over and thus it is too early for celebrations:

 

Today was a day I knew I could handle well, and what is important is that I’m still in the competition. There are difficult days ahead with mountain stages, which are going to be challenging, but I am motivated and hopeful, and we (the Movistar Team) will continue fighting to see how far we can get.

 

According to Mr. Amador’s official Movistar Team bio:

 

He became a crucial factor for Nairo Quintana’s win in the 2014 Giro d’Italia with his relentless work throughout the race, most notably in the beginning of stage 16, through walls of snow and ice towards the Passo Gavia, the Stelvio and the famous attack that led the Colombian to the win atop Val Martello. Winner of the Cervinia stage in the ‘Corsa Rosa’ three years ago, he excels in both the flat and the mountains and performs really well in time trials, values that turn him into a coveted value for every leader. Born in Costa Rica, lives in La Garriga near Barcelona.