Miguel Ángel López (cyclist)

Representing Colombia

Men's road cycling
Pan American Championships
	2023 Panama City	Time trial
Central American and Caribbean Games
	2023 San Salvador	Time trial
	2023 San Salvador	Road race

Miguel Ángel López Moreno (born February 4, 1994) is a Colombian cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team Team Medellín–EPM.

In 2016, López won his first World Tour stage race at the Tour de Suisse and achieved his maiden grand tour stage victory the following season on Stage 11 of the Vuelta a España, followed by another victory on Stage 15. He was the overall winner of the Tour Colombia and the Volta a Catalunya in 2019. In 2020, he won the "Queen" stage of the Tour de France.

Career

López was born in Pesca. López celebrated success in 2014, winning multiple stage races while still an amateur. In August he won the Tour de l'Avenir, the most prestigious under 23 cycling race. López also won the U23 version of the Vuelta a Colombia.

Astana (2015–20)

2015

Following his success in 2014, López was granted a contract with Astana, a UCI WorldTeam. His success in stage races continued, finishing 4th overall and winning a stage at the Vuelta a Burgos and 7th overall in the Tour de Suisse.

2016

2016 was López's breakthrough season. He finished 4th in the Tour de San Luis, the first race of his season, winning Stage 6 and taking the young rider classification. One month later, López finished third and won a stage at the Tour de Langkawi, an eight-day race held in Malaysia. The biggest win yet of his career came at the Tour de Suisse, where he won the general classification ahead of Ion Izagirre and Warren Barguil. Following these successes, López was one of five riders selected to represent Colombia in the road race at the Olympics. López started his first grand tour at the Vuelta a España where he was the chosen team leader but he was forced to abandon the race on Stage 6 following a crash on Stage 3.

2017

López was named on the start list for the Vuelta a España in a strong Astana line-up alongside former race winner Fabio Aru. On Stage 11, he took his first grand tour stage victory, distancing himself from race favourites Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Wilco Kelderman in the last 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) of the first-category climb up to the Calar Alto Observatory. López's fine form in the mountains continued on Stage 14 to Sierra de la Pandera where he once again distanced the race leaders to finish second to Rafał Majka on the first especial category climb of the race. He went on to win the following Stage 15 after a solo escape on the summit finish, yet again distancing the race favorites for his second Vuelta stage victory.

2018

In May 2018, he was named in the startlist for the Giro d'Italia; he finished in third place overall, behind Chris Froome and Tom Dumoulin. He also made the podium in the Vuelta a España, finishing third overall behind Simon Yates and Enric Mas.

2019

López won stage 4 and the general classification in March's Volta a Catalunya. López competed in the Giro d'Italia, finishing seventh overall and winning the young rider classification for a second time in a row. During stage 20 of the race, López was brought down in an incident with a fan about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from the finish. He proceeded to hit the spectator four times, including knocking the hat off his head. While the regulations of the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), call for disqualification of a rider who assaults someone during a race, the race jury decided against applying a punishment to López. He later apologised for the incident, but stated that riders should receive more respect from the crowd. One day later, after the Giro had ended, the UCI announced that they were investigating the lack of a penalty for his behaviour.

2020

In August 2020, he was named in the startlist for the Tour de France. López won stage 17, the queen stage, finishing atop the Col de la Loze. Near the end of the stage and at the steepest part of the climb – reaching gradients of up to 24% – López and Sepp Kuss caught the final breakaway rider Richard Carapaz. Kuss waited up for his leader Primož Roglič and López soloed to victory ahead of him and Tadej Pogačar, and moved into third in the general classification – a position that he was hoping to keep for the rest of the race. He held that position until the penultimate day, when he lost three or more minutes to the three riders immediately behind him in the overall standings, dropping to a final position of sixth.

Movistar Team

After six years with Astana, López signed a one-year contract with the Movistar Team, for the 2021 season. In August, the Movistar Team extended his contract to the end of 2023. During the Vuelta a España he finished second of the overall contenders in the first summit finish, on the third stage, at Picón Blanco. He ran as high as third overall in the first half of the race, trailing Primož Roglič, and teammate Enric Mas. He once again won the queen stage of a Grand Tour, winning the eighteenth stage that finished at El Gamoniteiru, the highest mountain in the autonomous community of Asturias. López attacked with 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) remaining and chased down the sole leader David de la Cruz; he ultimately won the stage by fourteen seconds from Roglič. During the penultimate stage, he missed a move among the other general classification contenders and found himself stuck in a group that had fallen behind. López abandoned the race a few kilometres later despite several team members encouraging him to continue. López later apologised for the manner of his withdrawal, but two weeks later, López and Movistar Team agreed to a mutual termination of his contract as at the end of the month. He later described Mas as a "selfish person" and the team atmosphere was "always very tense". The incident featured as part of the third season of The Least Expected Day, a documentary series about the team.

Return to Astana

In October 2021, López signed a two-year contract with the Astana–Premier Tech team, later renamed Astana Qazaqstan Team, from the 2022 season. He finished third overall at the Vuelta a Andalucía, and took his first victory of the season at the Tour of the Alps, winning the penultimate stage that finished at the Grossglockner. He was part of the Astana Qazaqstan Team at the Giro d'Italia, but withdrew from the race on its first Italian stage, stage four.

As the end of the 2022 Tour de France neared Lopez, who was not in the race that year, was stopped by police at a Madrid airport and questioned in a non blood doping drug trafficking investigation. Team Astana Qazaqstan issued a very surprised tweet on July 22, 04:02 that Lopez had been suspended by the team until a clarification was made regarding a Spanish professor he has had contact with. Initial reports that López himself was being investigated were denied by Spain's Guardia Civil police force. As of 12 December, 2022 López's contract with Team Astana Qazaqstan was terminated.

Doping

On 25 July 2023, it was announced that López has been provisionally suspended due to a potential anti-doping rule violation for use and possession of a prohibited substance in the weeks prior to the 2022 Giro d’Italia. On 29 May 2024, the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal found López guilty of anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance (Menotropin). He was banned from competing for four years, inclusive of his previous suspension. His suspension remains in force until 24 July 2027.

Major results

2014

1st

Overall Tour de l'Avenir

1st

Mountains classification

1st Stage 6

1st

Overall Vuelta de la Juventud de Colombia

1st Stage 4

1st

Overall Clásica de Samacá

1st Stages 1 & 2

1st

Overall Clásica Aguazul

1st Stages 1 & 2

1st Stage 1 Clásica Fusagasugá

4th Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships

2015 (1 pro win)

4th Overall Vuelta a Burgos

1st

Young rider classification

1st Stages 2 (TTT) & 4

7th Overall Tour de Suisse

2016 (4)

1st

Overall Tour de Suisse

1st Milano–Torino

3rd Overall Tour de Langkawi

1st Stage 4

4th Time trial, National Road Championships

4th Overall Tour de San Luis

1st

Young rider classification

1st Stage 6

2017 (4)

2nd Overall Tour of Austria

1st Stage 4

4th Overall Vuelta a Burgos

1st Stage 5

8th Overall Vuelta a España

1st

Young rider classification

1st Stages 11 & 15

2018 (3)

2nd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

1st

Points classification

1st Stage 3

2nd Overall Tour of Oman

1st

Young rider classification

1st Stage 5

2nd Milano–Torino

3rd Overall Giro d'Italia

1st

Young rider classification

3rd Overall Vuelta a España

3rd Overall Abu Dhabi Tour

1st

Young rider classification

3rd Overall Tour of the Alps

1st Stage 2

2019 (3)

1st

Overall Volta a Catalunya

1st

Young rider classification

1st Stage 4

1st

Overall Tour Colombia

1st

Young rider classification

2nd Time trial, National Road Championships

5th Overall Vuelta a España

1st Stage 1 (TTT)

Combativity award Stage 1 & Overall

Held

after Stages 1, 5 & 7

Held

after Stages 1–12 & 18–19

7th Overall Giro d'Italia

1st

Young rider classification

2020 (2)

3rd Overall Volta ao Algarve

1st Stage 4

5th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné

6th Overall Tour de France

1st Stage 17

2021 (4)

1st

Overall Vuelta a Andalucía

1st Stage 3

1st Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge

1st Stage 18 Vuelta a España

6th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné

2022 (1)

1st Stage 4 Tour of the Alps

3rd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

1st

Mountains classification

3rd Overall Vuelta a Andalucía

4th Overall Vuelta a España

4th Giro del Veneto

2023 (3)

1st

Time trial, National Road Championships

1st

Overall Vuelta a San Juan

1st Stage 5

1st

Overall Vuelta a Colombia

1st

Points classification

1st

Mountains classification

1st Prologue, Stages 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 (ITT)

1st

Overall Vuelta al Tolima

1st

Points classification

1st

Mountains classification

1st Stages 3 & 4

1st

Overall Vuelta a Catamarca

1st

Mountains classification

1st Stage 3

1st Clásica de Ciclismo Ciudad de Villeta

1st Stage 1 Tour of the Gila

1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 3 Tour de Panamá

2nd Overall Vuelta Bantrab

1st

Mountains classification

1st Stages 4 & 5

2nd Overall Joe Martin Stage Race

1st Stage 3 (ITT)

2nd

Time trial, Pan American Road Championships

4th Overall Vuelta a Formosa

4th Circuito Ciclístico Jenesano

General classification results timeline

Grand Tour	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Grand Tour general classification results
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	3	7	DNF	—	DNF
Tour de France	—	—	—	—	—	6	DNF	—
Vuelta a España	—	DNF	8	3	5	—	DNF	4
Major stage race general classification results
Race	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Paris–Nice	—	—	—	—	28	—	—	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	16	—	—	—	21
Volta a Catalunya	DNF	42	—	—	1	NH	—	—
Tour of the Basque Country	—	20	—	—	—		—	—
Tour de Romandie	—	DNF	—	—	—		35	—
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	—	—	—	—	5	6	—
Tour de Suisse	7	1	DNF	—	—	NH	—	—

Legend
—	Did not compete
DNF	Did not finish
DSQ	Disqualified
IP	In progress
NH	Not held

References

^ "Astana - Pro Team". Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
"Astana Pro Team presented renewed roster for 2019". Astana. Apgrade. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
"Astana Pro Team". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
"Movistar Team". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
Fotheringham, Alasdair (24 November 2020). "Miguel Ángel López signs for Movistar for 2021 season". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
Fletcher, Patrick (15 October 2021). "Astana confirm return of Miguel Angel López". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
"ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM". UCI. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
"Official: Miguel Ángel López signs with Team Medellín". Velo News. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
"Tour de Suisse 2016: Stage 9 Results - Cyclingnews.com". cyclingnews.com. 19 June 2016.
^ "Stage 11 - Lorca > Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto". La Vuelta 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
"La Vuelta: Miguel Angel Lopez wins again as Chris Froome extends lead after Stage 15". Eurosport. 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
"71st Vuelta a España". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
"Simon Yates times it well". Le Tour. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
"Stage 14 - Écija > Sierra de La Pandera". La Vuelta 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
"Lopez secures second mountaintop win at Vuelta a Espana | Cyclingnews.com". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
"2018: 101st Giro d'Italia: Start List". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
Fotheringham, Alasdair (16 September 2018). "Simon Yates wins 2018 Vuelta a Espana". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Volta a Catalunya 2019". CyclingStage.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
Brown, Gregor (1 June 2019). "Miguel Ángel López reacts to spectator crash: 'Riders deserve more respect but I'm sorry'". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
Farrand, Stephen (2 June 2019). "UCI jury decision under scrutiny after Lopez's assault on Giro d'Italia fan goes unpunished". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
"107th Tour de France: Startlist". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
"Tour de France: Miguel Angel Lopez wins stage 17 atop Col de la Loze". 16 September 2020.
Fotheringham, Alasdair (16 September 2020). "Lopez eyes Tour de France podium after lone stage win on Col de la Loze". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Miguel Ángel López on tumble from Tour de France podium: 'We came up one day short'". VeloNews. Outside. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Miguel Ángel López reinforces 2021 Movistar Team roster | Movistar Team". 24 November 2020.
"Miguel Ángel López signs new two-year contract with Movistar Team | Movistar Team". 12 August 2021.
"Movistar Team show collective strength at Picón Blanco". Movistar Team. Abarca Sports S.L. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Lopez tames the mighty Gamoniteiru - la Vuelta 2022".
Long, Jonny (4 September 2021). "Miguel Ángel López abandons Vuelta a España after being told to stop chasing Roglič group, source claims". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
@Movistar_Team (4 September 2021). "@SupermanlopezN Words from @SupermanlopezN after stage 20 of #LaVuelta21:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Long, Jonny (18 September 2021). "Miguel Ángel López to leave Movistar, team announces". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"López blasts Mas over controversial exit from Movistar". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Hood, Andrew (21 January 2022). "Parting words from Miguel Ángel López: 'It was a pleasure, gentlemen'". VeloNews. Outside. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Miguel Angel Lopez is set to return to Astana Qazaqstan Team for two seasons". Astana–Premier Tech. Abacanto SA. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
"Miguel Angel Lopez is third in the General Classification of Vuelta a Andalucia". Astana Qazaqstan Team. Abacanto SA. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Dabbs, Ryan (21 April 2022). "Miguel Ángel López takes victory on stage four of the Tour of the Alps". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Becket, Adam (10 May 2022). "Miguel Ángel López forced to abandon Giro d'Italia on stage four". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
O'Shea, Sadhbh (22 July 2022). "Miguel Ángel López temporarily suspended by Astana Qazaqstan after reports linking him to drug trafficking investigation: The Colombian rider was met by police investigating drug trafficking and money laundering crimes at Madrid Airport". Velo News by Outside Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
Staff, Eurosport (22 July 2022). "MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ SUSPENDED BY ASTANA QAZAQSTAN, RIDER DENIES ANY WRONGDOING". Eurosport. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
"Statement on Miguel Angel Lopez". 12 December 2022.
"UCI Statement on Miguel Ángel López". www.uci.org. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
"UCI statement concerning Miguel Ángel López". www.uci.org. Retrieved 2024-05-29.

External links

Miguel Ángel López at ProCyclingStats
Miguel Ángel López at Olympedia (archive)
Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno at UCI
Miguel Ángel López Moreno at Cycling Archives (archived)
Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno at CQ Ranking
Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno at CycleBase
Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno at Olympics.com

v t e Giro d'Italia young rider classification winners
1976: Alfio Vandi 1977: Mario Beccia 1978: Roberto Visentini 1979: Silvano Contini 1980: Tommy Prim 1981: Giuseppe Faraca 1982: Marco Groppo 1983: Franco Chioccioli 1984: Charly Mottet 1985: Alberto Volpi 1986: Marco Giovannetti 1987: Roberto Conti 1988: Stefano Tomasini 1989–90: Vladimir Poulnikov 1991: Massimiliano Lelli 1992–93: Pavel Tonkov 1994: Evgeni Berzin Was not awarded (1995–2006) 2007: Andy Schleck 2008: Riccardo Riccò 2009: Kevin Seeldraeyers 2010: Richie Porte 2011: Roman Kreuziger 2012: Rigoberto Urán 2013: Carlos Betancur 2014: Nairo Quintana 2015: Fabio Aru 2016–17: Bob Jungels 2018–19: Miguel Ángel López 2020: Tao Geoghegan Hart 2021: Egan Bernal 2022: Juan Pedro López 2023: João Almeida 2024: Antonio Tiberi

Giro d'Italia young rider classification winners

v t e Vuelta a España young rider classification winners
2017: Miguel Ángel López 2018: Enric Mas 2019: Tadej Pogačar 2020: Enric Mas 2021: Gino Mäder 2022: Remco Evenepoel 2023: Juan Ayuso 2024: Mattias Skjelmose

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