Egan Bernal during a stage of the Giro d'Italia, on May 24, 2021.LUCA ZENNARO (EFE)
Federico Gutiérrez, the candidate of the right-wing coalition in the Colombian presidential elections, has obtained this Wednesday the coveted support of the cyclist Egan Bernal.
"My vote of confidence is for Fico Gutiérrez", the 'young wonder' from Zipaquirá has said with all his letters through the same social networks where his recent political pronouncements have made so much noise.
The polls point to the former mayor of Medellín as the most immediate persecutor of the left-wing leader Gustavo Petro, who leads the preferences by a wide margin, ahead of the first round on May 29.
As a young glory of the sport most linked to Colombian identity, the symbolic value of Egan, as everyone knows him, is considerable.
He has been the only Colombian champion of the Tour de France, the earliest winner in a century.
He has also won the Giro d'Italia, and at the age of 25 he is recovering a few months after crashing into a bus in an accident in which he nearly died or became quadriplegic.
The country followed his convalescence in suspense, and that he returned to shooting so soon is considered almost a miracle.
Polarization has characterized Colombian society for years, especially since the peace agreements sealed at the end of 2016. It has also marked the presidential race.
Bernal had made it clear that Petro, at the head of the Historical Pact, a motley left-wing coalition, was not his favorite candidate.
However, it was speculated that his affections were with the centrist candidate, Sergio Fajardo, an enthusiastic cycling fan.
Without mentioning his name, he had implied that it was his choice.
Nairo Quintana, another of the
beetles
Most recognized for his triumphs in the grand tours, he supported former Boyacá governor Carlos Amaya, another candidate from the Centro Esperanza Coalition who was surpassed by Fajardo.
But Bernal has decided to break any ambiguity to turn his support to Gutiérrez.
“Taking into account the current situation, I think it is the most sensible thing to do”, the cyclist has written in a chain of messages on Twitter in which he explains his position.
"I am with the people, I come from below and I have climbed many mountains to get to where I am," he says before recalling that he has been very critical of the current government of President Iván Duque, who has shown his affinity with Gutiérrez.
"You cannot sow more hatred between social classes, between company-worker, because they have different ways of thinking, Fico Gutiérrez has the virtue of uniting," says Egan.
“I am not from the extreme right, nor from the extreme left.
I am one more person who believes that we deserve a change, yes… And that this cannot continue in the same way.
But sensibly ”, he reiterates in what seems like a last dart against Petro,
My vote of confidence is for @FicoGutierrez, considering the current situation I think it's the most sensible thing to do.
I am with the people, I come from below and I have climbed many mountains to get to where I am.
And I tell you one thing, there can be no more hate... 🧵 I open thread.
– Egan Arley Bernal (@Eganbernal) May 18, 2022
Gutiérrez was not long in thanking, proudly, that support.
"I will not disappoint the trust you give me," replied the former mayor of Medellín.
"I promise to make a different Colombia, fair, in order and with opportunities so that many young people like you can climb mountains that take them to the top, to fulfill their dreams," he added.
In the opinion polls, Petro leads with about 40% of the preferences, still far from the possibility of a victory without having to contest the second round.
Gutiérrez stands at around 24%, stagnant but with a considerable advantage over Fajardo and the independent Rodolfo Hernández, his rivals for the move to a ballot in which Petro's presence is taken for granted.
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