It's been three years since Andrés Camilo Ardila illuminated the Giro d'Italia 23His victory, the last for a Colombian, left no doubts. Only many certainties for the way he had obtained it and for the overwhelming dominance of the young climber from Tolima, winner of two stages and undisputed leader of that Colombian team, which managed to bring Juan Diego Alba of Boyacá to the podium as well.
The knee injury
Everything around Ardila was auspicious. However, in the midst of the consecration, a previously little-known detail occurred. Camilo finished the Giro with a knee injury, which initially ruled him out of the Tour de L'Avenir and then, after several tests under the observation of Gustavo Castro (orthopedic in charge of fixing the serious injuries of Esteban Chaves and Miguel Ángel López), he left him without running for a period of six months.
He wanted to retire
It was the beginning of a series of sporting and psychological ups and downs which influenced not only his state of mind, but also the idyll of becoming one of the cyclists called upon to make a difference in the international group. He even thought about retiringHe felt useless for high-level cycling. He didn't want to continue fighting. despite having signed a four-year contract with one of the best teams in the world.
«It was quite difficult – confessed the 23-year-old from Tolimago – I have to be realistic. The first year brought many expectations And I prayed to God that it would be one of the best years in professional cycling, but it wasn't to be. Getting here and not achieving the goals and objectives I had was very difficult, very complicated. Mentally, a lot of things were coming up that weren't right. and that damaged my first year on the team. I even thought about retiring, I thought cycling here (Europe) wasn't for me."
Father of a family
But now, with a new air in his personal life as a family man, the climber born in Mariquita (the municipality from which the climb to the legendary Alto de Letras begins, the longest pass in the country with its 82 kilometers) he managed to reset his way of thinking. And so he reevaluated his final year of contract with the structure managed by Joxean Fernández 'Matxin'.
«I came back home – he says – for regain focus and recharge my batteries with my familyThey gave me so much energy and support to overcome the difficult time I was going through. I asked myself: if I was able to win the Giro against many of those who are doing well today, why can't I do it again? But then I looked into things and I also saw that they, like my partner Alessandro Covi, had a longer path than me in European cycling. And that's an advantage in a way. When I arrived I didn't have enough knowledge of watt trainingIn Colombia I always did it with sensations and here Technology and numbers are very important to learn about each other».
A year of growth
"Let's say that the second year was great for me, I was already finishing the races, I was closer (to the favorites) and I was helping the team. It's It was rewarding, but it wasn't enough for me, it wasn't what I was looking for», says Camilo, who is still looking for the formula to take off with directed by Díaz Navarro, the coach in charge of his preparationThe third in three years, after Colombian Jhon Jaime González (current Colombian track coach) and Spaniard Yeyo Corral (currently coach of Astana).
«This was the key – he says – to improve day after day, because He believes a lot in me and in the type of rider I am.In the end, I took the good, I couldn't settle for just the bad. Only in this way could I get out of the bad times. This year I saw that I was much more competitive, that I was more useful for the team., that I do what they ask of me and I think that from this we can begin to seek and find that Camilo who can give great things.
"I wanted make my Giro d'Italia debut, I hope to do it in 2023I thought about it a lot because I felt ready. I spoke to the team about going to the Vuelta, not to win, that would be lying, but to be useful to the team and in the meantime learn how to manage a big Giro and gain experience."
Return to Luxembourg
This season the Colombian has accumulated 38 days of racing, with the Coppi e Bartali as the race with the best resultHe finished 18th overall and showed some glimpses of his condition.
“Italy is a country that brings back fond memories for me,” he says, “and where I really enjoy racing. I was close to winning, but it didn't happenI felt very good. The Coppi e Bartali is the race where I could see something of that Camilo that everyone expects.
«I'm in one of the best teams in the world and I have very professional people who helped me grow every year. They always motivate me to do things well and to get the best result in every race", thanks the Colombian who He is preparing on the roads of Andorra to face his return to the Tour of Luxembourg (13-17 September). He also made one of his daily outings with Nairo Quintana, with which he completed 5 and a half hours with 4.800 meters of altitude difference.
«I think a lot about that race, I am available to the team for whatever I need, but I'm also preparing to prove that I can fight».
