Colombian · Medellín, Colombia · Born 27 October 1972Santiago Botero is a Colombian former road cyclist who won the 2002 World Time Trial Championship and the Tour de France mountains classification in 2000, once famously beating Lance Armstrong in a Tour time trial.
Santiago Botero Echeverry, nicknamed 'The Buffalo from Medellín,' was born on October 27, 1972, in Medellín, Colombia, and developed his love of cycling on a mountain bike given to him by his father. He turned professional in 1996, and joined Spanish team Kelme-Costa Blanca in 1998, where he spent his most successful years. Botero won the mountains classification, the polka dot jersey, at the 2000 Tour de France, winning the mountain stage into Briançon along the way. He produced the finest season of his career in 2002, finishing fourth overall at the Tour de France and delivering a major surprise by beating defending champion Lance Armstrong in the race's first long individual time trial, before capping the year by winning the World Time Trial Championship in Zolder, Belgium, having also taken bronze in the event the previous year. Botero moved to German team Telekom in 2003 and later Phonak, winning the Tour de Romandie overall in 2005, though he faced doping allegations that year that he was ultimately cleared of. He returned to Colombian domestic cycling for the final years of his career, and announced his retirement in 2010 after struggling to recover from a bout of dengue fever, closing out his career with a gold medal in the time trial at the South American Games held in his hometown of Medellín.
Winning the 2002 World Time Trial Championship and beating Lance Armstrong in a Tour de France time trial
How They Played
Versatile all-rounder combining strong climbing ability with elite time trialling skill
Lasting Impact
One of Colombia's finest all-around cyclists, excelling in both mountain climbing and time trialling during a golden generation of Colombian cycling
Career Honours
- World Champion, time trial (2002)
- Tour de France mountains classification winner (2000)
- Tour de France stage winner beating Lance Armstrong in a time trial (2002)
- Tour de Romandie overall winner (2005)
- World Championship time trial bronze (2001)
Colombian Athletes