Einer Rubio responds from Bogotá, where his family moved a few years ago. In fact, their origins are in Boyacá, in Chiuquiza, in the middle of the mountains where last year he began his professional career wearing the Movistar jersey. Einer is the climber who in two seasons as an U23 in Italy won 7 races, including 2 stages at the Giro d'Italia (Folgarida 2018, Passo Fedaia the following year), the Gran Premio Capodarco (2018) and the Memorial Tortoli (2019). It was and still is based in Benevento, at Donato Polvere's house, his sports director at Vejus, who also set up the team in 2020 together with “Umbertone” by Giuseppe, the same one that welcomed Hindley for a year.
When Movistar he realized that by 2020 he would lose his brothers Quintana and Anacona, he turned to Rubio to maintain the Colombian quota. So in 2020 of Covid, Einer made his Giro d'Italia debut with just 15 days of racing And he did it, often breaking away. He was with Ganna and De Gendt at Camigliatello, before Pippo opened the throttle, and he took sixth place in the penultimate stage in Sestriere.
After quarantine in Spain due to Lopez's positivity, As soon as he realized that the first races would be canceled, Einer rushed back to Colombia. He would have participated in the national championships, but at the last minute those were also cancelled.. So he will stay there for a while longer and will return to Europe for the debut at the Tirreno-AdriaticoThe signal comes and goes, his Italian is always better.
How was your first year as a pro?
Particular. I was happy with the opportunity to do the GiroIn the midst of Covid, there was some good. Although perhaps the best moment was the Tour of Colombia.
In Boyaca, in your region, the best…
A little in Boyaca, a little in Cundinamarca and then in Bogota. With Movistar, among my people. It was a party, when you could still party. Now everything is open here, but getting things done is more difficult.
Will you return to the Giro?
I'll do the Tirreno, the Catalunya, then I'll go to altitude with the team. So the Tour of the Alps and the Giro. A nice program, very demanding. I like.
Is everything okay with the team?
The atmosphere is very familiar, but maybe there was some mistakeI missed some work, I missed racing. I needed to figure out what I can do and where I can go, and I needed a better foundation. But now that's clear, and we've put together a good program. They trust me.
Are you happy with Lopez's arrival?
Very much so, because he has so much experience. We'll do some races together. I knew him, but now I've had the opportunity to learn more. At least this is what quarantine has helped us with. (laughs, ed.).
Many Colombians have moved to Monaco or Andorra. Will you stay in Italy?
Certainly I will continue to be based with you, with Donato's familyThey are my second family, they were very close to me when I arrived. They are really like my second parents and they see me as a son, they love me.
Last year at the Giro there was talk of when Hindley was racing in Italy: had Umbertone ever spoken to you about it?
It's actually funny that we both ran for him. I didn't know Hindley, but Umberto had shown me the photosI talked to him on the run and We had a laugh remembering his time in Abruzzo.
How close are you to fighting like Hindley?
I have to work hard. With the team We've identified the things that need fixing, but I'm not far awayI have to focus more on specific tasks. And then in the first Giro I was a little scared at times of being in a group. We ran at a very high level, but now I've taken the measureI know where I'm going.
Will you come to the Giro to help Soler?
Exactly, because Lopez will do the Tour and the VueltaWe will leave to help Marc, but then the road will decide on the actual rolesHe sure has a great engine.
What remains of the Colombian expedition that dominated the 2019 U23 Giro?
We see each other every now and then. Ardila is at Uae, Alba is my teammateWe'll keep in touch, we often chat while running. And when needed, we help each other.
