Rider Itamar Einhorn recorded Israeli history, finishing third in the first section of the Columbia 22-year-old sprinter: "It's unbelievable it hasn't happened before. Now I want to get a win."

• Itamar Einhorn on the podium. Israeli pride

  Photo:

  Betini Photo

Israel startup Nation (Wednesday) recorded one of its highlights this year as rider Itamar Einhorn finished third in Colombia's first section.

Einhorn recorded Israeli history as he became the first to jump on the podium in a professional bike race since the group's inception 5 years ago.

The 22-year-old sprinter from Intelligence in his first season as a top-ranked rider in the world, said at the finish: "I'm glad I did and truly unbelievable that it didn't happen before, but now I want to get a win and not just a third place."

Einhorn is second from the right. Blue-and-white history // Photo: Bettini Photo

Einhorn said that in the last few miles he didn't think he had a chance to do so today: "I felt like I had no oxygen, but for the last mile I just cut myself off and walked on it.

"I congratulate Itamar for the achievement," said academic director Carl Karlstrom.

Einhorn expressed confidence that he would already succeed in one of the following races for a historic victory: "It will come, I'm almost there."