MILAN – When Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana raised his arms to celebrate winning the Giro d'Italia a few weeks ago, few people who knew him were surprised. "The first time I saw this trophy I thought it had to be mine," he revealed as he lifted the cup.
Pedalling, sweating and winning - ganar in Spanish.
Winning seems to be an obsession for Colombian athletes in this period. Fredy Guarin explained why: "We're hungry for success. It's something we feel when we're in our country, and we feel it even more abroad."
That's why you might sense something special in the air when Colombia is involved. The roar of victory. Like the roar of a jaguar. Resonating from one ground to another, from the mouth of No.13. Inter's No.13 and also La Selección's. "It's nothing to do with superstition," the midfielder says. "I just like the number."
Fredy won't be involved in his country's World Cup opener against Greece tonight due to suspension, but he's ready to roar on the team before returning to face Ivory Coast and Japan.
The Colombians' hunger for victory doesn't mean they're arrogant though. Anything but. "There are all sorts of characters in our dressing room, but when he's not under pressure Armero is the funniest. We have so much fun together."
Don't think Guarin merely plays a bit part. He's one of those who helps keep spirits high within the camp, something he learnt to do from a young age in Puerto Boyacá, where he was born and kicked his first ball (and we can only guess how hard...).
"There wasn't much to do on Sundays apart from kick a ball about," he recalls. "I started playing in the street when I was about 9 or 10. It was always a good time to play." Playing and trying to emulate his Inter idols, Vieira and Ronaldo.
There are other things in his life of course. Cinema, for a start. "I love films. When I get the chance I try to watch as many as I can." His family: his sister, who's at university ("My mum's so proud"), and his brother, who also plays football.
Then there are his own kids, who he spends lots of time with. And cycling is one of the things they enjoy doing together - because it should be fun. But if you learn to pedal, sweat and win from a young age, it's better. Ganar. For Colombia.
