2008 Vuelta a Colombia
# 2008 Vuelta a Colombia

The 58th edition of the Vuelta a Colombia was held from May 10 to May 25, 2008. Colombia's Giovanny Báez was crowned champion after 50 hours, 25 minutes and 55 seconds or riding through the plains and mountains of Colombia. The last stage, an urban race through the streets of Cali, was won by Artur García. The 27-year-old Báez was the 33rd cyclist to win the Tour of Colombia.

## Stages

### 2008-05-10: Barrancabermeja — Barrancabermeja (8.4 km)

| Place | Prologue | Prologue | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Santiago Botero (COL) | 09.53 | Santiago Botero (COL) | 27.44 |
| 2. | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) | +0.07 | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) | +0.07 |
| 3. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | +0.14 | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | +0.14 |

### 2008-05-11: Barrancabermeja — Bucaramanga (146.9 km)

| Place | Stage 1 | Stage 1 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Artur García Rincón (VEN) | 4:00.09 | Carlos Ospina (COL) | 4:10.27 |
| 2. | Rafael Montiel (COL) | — | Artur García Rincón (VEN) | +0.07 |
| 3. | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | +0.04 | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | +0.10 |

### 2008-05-12: Piedecuesta — El Socorro (136.4 km)

| Place | Stage 2 | Stage 2 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Jhon García (COL) | 3:37.10 | Carlos Ospina (COL) | 7:47.37 |
| 2. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | — | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | +0.10 |
| 3. | Franklin Chacón (VEN) | — | Rafael Montiel (COL) | +0.23 |

### 2008-05-13: El Socorro — Tunja (169.5 km)

| Place | Stage 3 | Stage 3 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Santiago Ojeda (COL) | 4:39.17 | Carlos Ospina (COL) | 12:30.37 |
| 2. | Juan Pablo Wilches (COL) | +3.31 | Santiago Ojeda (COL) | +0.04 |
| 3. | Edwin Parra (COL) | +3.42 | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | +0.10 |

### 2008-05-14: Tunja — La Vega (192 km)

| Place | Stage 4 | Stage 4 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Jefferson Vargas (COL) | 4:20.02 | Wilson Cepeda (COL) | 16:52.11 |
| 2. | Wilson Cepeda (COL) | — | Iván Casas (COL) | +1.45 |
| 3. | Miguel Ángel Díaz (COL) | +0.02 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | +2.02 |

### 2008-05-15: San Francisco — La Dorada (135 km)

| Place | Stage 5 | Stage 5 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Edgar Fonseca (COL) | 3:11.26 | Wilson Cepeda (COL) | 20:03.33 |
| 2. | Jhon García (COL) | +0.26 | Iván Casas (COL) | +2.15 |
| 3. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | — | Giovanny Báez (COL) | +2.32 |

### 2008-05-16: Doradal — El Santuario (115.3 km)

| Place | Stage 6 | Stage 6 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Rafael Montiel (COL) | 3:21.10 | Wilson Cepeda (COL) | 23:28.13 |
| 2. | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | +0.47 | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | +0.05 |
| 3. | Graciano Fonseca (COL) | — | Rafael Montiel (COL) | +1.14 |

### 2008-05-17: Río Negro — La Unión (163.6 km)

| Place | Stage 7 | Stage 7 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) | 3:51.32 | Wilson Cepeda (COL) | 27:23.17 |
| 2. | Edwin Orozco (COL) | +0.18 | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | +0.05 |
| 3. | Wilson Marentes (COL) | +0.36 | Rafael Montiel (COL) | +1.14 |

### 2008-05-18: Medellín — Santa Elena (31 km)

| Place | Stage 8 (Individual Time Trial) | Stage 8 (Individual Time Trial) | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | 57.45 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 28:22.58 |
| 2. | Giovanny Báez (COL) | +0.36 | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | +1.31 |
| 3. | Víctor Niño (COL) | +0.51 | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.19 |

### 2008-05-20: Caldas — Manizales (173 km)

| Place | Stage 9 | Stage 9 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | 3:37.50 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 32:00.49 |
| 2. | Juan Diego Ramírez (COL) | — | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | +1.31 |
| 3. | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | — | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.18 |

### 2008-05-21: Manizales — Mariquita (176.8 km)

| Place | Stage 10 | Stage 10 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Diego Calderón (COL) | 3:09.47 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 35:11.00 |
| 2. | Juan Pablo Wilches (COL) | +1.06 | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | +1.31 |
| 3. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | +1.09 | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.18 |

### 2008-05-22: Mariquita — La Linéa (176.8 km)

| Place | Stage 11 | Stage 11 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | 5:04.44 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 40:16.37 |
| 2. | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | +0.05 | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.00 |
| 3. | Giovanny Báez (COL) | +0.12 | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | +3.14 |

### 2008-05-23: Quimbaya — Pereira (158.2 km)

| Place | Stage 12 | Stage 12 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Wilson Marentes (COL) | 4:04.16 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 44:22.18 |
| 2. | Camilo Gómez (COL) | — | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.00 |
| 3. | Edgar Fonseca (COL) | — | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | +3.14 |

### 2008-05-24: Cartago — Cali (190.4 km)

| Place | Stage 13 | Stage 13 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | César Salazar (VEN) | — | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 48:18.20 |
| 2. | Oscar Álvarez (COL) | — | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.00 |
| 3. | Wilson Marentes (COL) | — | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | +3.14 |

### 2008-05-25: Cali — Cali (96 km)

| Place | Stage 14 | Stage 14 | General Classification | General Classification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Name | Time | Name | Time |
| 1. | Artur García (VEN) | 2:07.35 | Giovanny Báez (COL) | 50:25.55 |
| 2. | Andres Miguel Díaz (COL) | — | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | +2.00 |
| 3. | Jhon García (COL) | — | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | +3.14 |

## Final classification

| RANK | NAME | TEAM | TIME |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1. | Giovanny Báez (COL) | Une Orbitel | 50:25:55 |
| 2. | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | Lotería de Boyacá | + 2.00 |
| 3. | Mauricio Ortega (COL) | Une Orbitel | + 3.14 |
| 4. | Alejandro Ramírez (COL) | GW Shimano-EPM | + 3.29 |
| 5. | Diego Calderón (COL) | Blanco del Valle Frugos | + 4.36 |
| 6. | Víctor Niño (COL) | Coordinadora-EBSA | + 5.24 |
| 7. | Juan Diego Ramírez (COL) | GW Shimano | + 5.33 |
| 8. | Iván Parra (COL) | Colombia es Pasión | + 7.02 |
| 9. | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | Rock Racing | + 7.45 |
| 10. | Francisco Colorado (COL) | GW Shimano | + 8.27 |
