Fabio Parra
Encyclopedia
Fabio Enrique Parra Pinto (born November 22, 1959 in Sogamoso
, Boyacá
) is a retired Colombia
n road racing cyclist. Parra was successful as an amateur in Colombia
, winning the Novatos classification for new riders or riders riding their first edition of the race, and finishing 14th in the 1979 Vuelta a Colombia
and then the General Classification
in the 1981 Vuelta a Colombia
.
Parra turned professional for the first Colombia
n cycling team
, Café de Colombia, in 1985. He was a professional from 1985 to 1992 and won stages in the Tour de France
and Vuelta a España
. His success occurred at the same time as his compatriot Luis Herrera
. While Herrera won stages and the King of the Mountains
competitions in the grand tours
, Parra could contend for the overall classification
. His greatest achievement was third place in the 1988 Tour de France
, still the highest placing of a South American. The following year in the Vuelta a España
, Parra finished second to Pedro Delgado
at 35 seconds.
Fabio Parra has two younger brothers who also became professionals, Humberto Parra Pinto and Iván Parra
. Humberto rode for three years for Kelme while Iván is riding for Cofidis
and won 2 stages of the 2005 Giro d'Italia
.
1980 – Lotería de Boyacá A
1981 – Lotería de Boyacá A
1982 – Perfumería Yanneth
1984 – Leche La Gran Vía A
1985 – Café de Colombia-Pilas Varta-Mavic
1986 – Café de Colombia-Pilas Varta
1987 – Café de Colombia
1988 – Kelme
1989 – Kelme
1990 – Kelme
1991 – Amaya
1992 – Amaya
Sogamoso
Sogamoso is a city in the Boyacá department of Colombia.The origin of Sogamoso goes back in the cosmogony, Chibcha, to the creation of the Sun. In the valley of Iraca the Sun was born...
, Boyacá
Boyacá Department
Boyacá is one of the 32 Departments of Colombia, and the remnant of one of the original nine states of the "United States of Colombia".Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost entirely within the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera to the border with Venezuela, although the western end...
) is a retired Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n road racing cyclist. Parra was successful as an amateur in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, winning the Novatos classification for new riders or riders riding their first edition of the race, and finishing 14th in the 1979 Vuelta a Colombia
Vuelta a Colombia
The Vuelta a Colombia is an annual cycling road race, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia and sometimes Venezuela during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation.The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951...
and then the General Classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
in the 1981 Vuelta a Colombia
Vuelta a Colombia
The Vuelta a Colombia is an annual cycling road race, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia and sometimes Venezuela during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation.The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951...
.
Parra turned professional for the first Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n cycling team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
, Café de Colombia, in 1985. He was a professional from 1985 to 1992 and won stages in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
. His success occurred at the same time as his compatriot Luis Herrera
Luis Herrera
Luis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera known as "el jardinerito" is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist...
. While Herrera won stages and the King of the Mountains
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
competitions in the grand tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
, Parra could contend for the overall classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
. His greatest achievement was third place in the 1988 Tour de France
1988 Tour de France
The 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h...
, still the highest placing of a South American. The following year in the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
, Parra finished second to Pedro Delgado
Pedro Delgado
Pedro Delgado Robledo , also known as Perico, is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He won the 1988 Tour de France, as well as the Vuelta a España in 1985 and 1989....
at 35 seconds.
Fabio Parra has two younger brothers who also became professionals, Humberto Parra Pinto and Iván Parra
Iván Parra
Iván Ramiro Parra Pinto is a Colombian professional road bicycle racer for Colombian Continental cycling team Colombia es Pasión. Iván comes from a Colombian cycling family...
. Humberto rode for three years for Kelme while Iván is riding for Cofidis
Cofidis (cycling team)
Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne is a French professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by a money-lending company, Cofidis. It was started in 1996 by Cyrille Guimard the former manager of Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon of the Renault-Elf team of the 1980s...
and won 2 stages of the 2005 Giro d'Italia
2005 Giro d'Italia
The 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
.
Major accomplishments
1979 – Lotería de Boyacá A- 14th overall Vuelta a Colombia
- 1st Novatos New rider classification
1980 – Lotería de Boyacá A
- 9th overall Vuelta a Colombia
1981 – Lotería de Boyacá A
- 2nd overall Clásico RCNClásico RCNThe Clásico RCN is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October...
- 1st overall Vuelta a Colombia
1982 – Perfumería Yanneth
- 2nd overall Clásico RCNClásico RCNThe Clásico RCN is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October...
1984 – Leche La Gran Vía A
- 3rd overall Vuelta a Colombia
- 5th overall Clásico RCNClásico RCNThe Clásico RCN is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October...
1985 – Café de Colombia-Pilas Varta-Mavic
- 5th overall Vuelta a España
- 8th overall 1985 Tour de France1985 Tour de FranceThe 1985 Tour de France was the 72nd Tour de France, taking place June 28 to July 21, 1985, over 4109 km in 22 stages and a prologue.Bernard Hinault would attempt to equal the records of Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx who had each won the Tour de France five times. Hinault was unable to...
- 1st, Stage 12
-
Winner white jersey
- 2nd overall Vuelta a Colombia
- 1st, Stage 11
1986 – Café de Colombia-Pilas Varta
- 8th overall Vuelta a España
1987 – Café de Colombia
- 6th overall 1987 Tour de France1987 Tour de FranceThe 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
- 1st overall Clásico RCNClásico RCNThe Clásico RCN is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October...
- 1st, Stage 1
- 1st, Stage 6
- 3rd overall Tour de Suisse
1988 – Kelme
- 5th overall Vuelta a España
- 1st, Stage 13
- 3rd overall 1988 Tour de France1988 Tour de FranceThe 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h...
- 1st, Stage 11
- 4th overall Vuelta a Colombia
1989 – Kelme
- 2nd overall Vuelta a España
- 2nd overall Clásico RCNClásico RCNThe Clásico RCN is an annual cycling road race that takes place over many stages through different regions of Colombia during October...
- 1st, Stage 3
- 2nd overall Vuelta a Colombia
- 1st, Stage 10
1990 – Kelme
- 5th overall Vuelta a España1990 Vuelta a EspañaThe 45th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 24 to May 15, 1990. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3711 km, and was won by Marco Giovannetti of the Seur cycling team.Defending champion Pedro Delgado was the...
- 13th overall 1990 Tour de France1990 Tour de FranceThe 1990 Tour de France was the 77th Tour de France, taking place June 30 to July 22, 1990. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3504 km, with riders averaging 38.62 km/h...
- 5th overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
1991 – Amaya
- 5th overall Vuelta a España1991 Vuelta a EspañaThe 46th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 29 to May 19, 1991. It consisted of 20 stages covering a total of 3215 km, and was won by Melchor Mauri of the ONCE cycling team.Miguel Induráin, Laudelino Cubino and Anselmo Fuerte...
- 1st, Stage 13
- 8th, GP Cafe de Colombia
- 6th overall Vuelta a Colombia
1992 – Amaya
- 7th overall Vuelta a España1992 Vuelta a EspañaThe 47th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 27 to May 17, 1992...
- 1st overall Vuelta a Colombia1992 Vuelta a ColombiaThe 42nd edition of the Vuelta a Colombia was held from March 31 to April 12, 1992. There were a total number of 93 competitors, including 20 foreign riders...
- 1st, Stage 11