Any visitor to Colombia can’t help but be seduced by the warmth of the people and the beauty of the countryside, even the weather in the central zone where most of the major climbs are situated is pleasantly alpine despite being pretty much bang on the equator. Large parts of country sit at above 2000m with mountain passes rising to over 4000m which can make climbing a significant challenge, as I found on my visit back in November 2017. For cycling fans the country is justifiably associated with bird-like climbers who can operate at this altitude and thrive in the pro peloton when the road goes up. However, it’s not only the ‘Escarabajos' that give Colombians such a significant presence in the pro peloton; sprinters like Fernando Gavira and Alvaro Hodeg have recently won at World Tour level, plus all rounders like Rigoberto Uran show the depth of talent that exists in a country where it’s not easy to break through into a top team. The crowds on the road this week testify to the status Colombians hold for their superstar cyclists and the pride they have in their national bike race.

As we battle through another UK winter the green hills of Colombia seem a long way away but it was a pleasure to receive a set of images from the recent Tempo group ride putting their new Milltag Pro Kit through its paces, a selection of these images are featured below. Looking sharp, muchachos.