2019: Movistar Team
A NEW ERA. Paula Patiño’s arrival to the Movistar Team opens new horizons for Latin America’s women’s cycling. This 22-year-old youngster from La Ceja, in the Antioquia department, has earned a place in the big leagues after becoming the biggest hopeful in her country. Her climbing skills and vast margin for progression in all terrains certainly make her one to follow.
SURPRISING THE WORLD. Her palmarès in 2019 was fantastic, very difficult to improve in a first year of WorldTour racing. Second best youngster overall in the Giro Rosa; 5th and 6th in two stages of the Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour; 20th in the Yorkshire Worlds road race; and podium finisher in the Spanish races of Eibar (2nd), La Rioja (2nd), Estella (3rd) and Noja (3rd). Always willing to learn and work hard, and performing well at the toughest courses – she will be one of the greats.
RELIABLE GAMBLE. Patiño cut her teeth at the UCI’s World Cycling Centre in Aigle (Switzerland), an initiative for the development of young riders in growing cycling countries. That solid preparation base is a guarantee for a signing which isn’t only exciting for the team, but also for those riders who have enjoyed less resources because of their origins. “Even in my happiest dreams I couldn’t hope of getting up to this place,” described Paula on such an important turn of events for her career.
One of her mentors was Hernando Gaviria –father of renowned sprinter Fernando-, who saw an excellent prospect in the youngster who joined her brother in their training rides. “I owe professor Hernando everything I am right now – he was the one who taught me everything I know since I was 13,” explains an emotional Patiño.
