Fernando Gaviria
A blisteringly fast Colombian sprinter who announced himself by beating the best and claimed Grand Tour stages with his explosive finishing speed.
Born 1994 (age 32)·Colombian road racing cyclist·Birthday: August 19·Millennials
Biography
Fernando Gaviria's arrival on the WorldTour felt like a sudden gust of wind. The Colombian, born in 1994, turned heads globally at the 2015 Tour de San Luis, where he outsprinted the era's dominant fast man, Mark Cavendish, not once but twice. That raw speed, honed partly on the track, translated seamlessly to the road. His first Grand Tour victory came at the 2017 Giro d'Italia, where he won four stages and wore the leader's magenta jersey, announcing a new sprinting force. Gaviria's career has been a story of high peaks—multiple stage wins in the Giro and Tour de France—interspersed with challenges like injuries and the tactical complexities of lead-out trains. He remains a rider capable of beating anyone on his day, carrying the flag for Colombian sprinting in a nation more famous for its climbers.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Fernando was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fernando Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Fernando's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won four stages and the points classification jersey at the 2017 Giro d'Italia in his Grand Tour debut.
- Defeated Mark Cavendish in two consecutive sprint finishes at the 2015 Tour de San Luis.
- Has won stages in both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.
- Won the Colombian National Road Race Championships in 2021.
Did You Know?
His nickname is 'Quetzal splendente', named after the colorful South American bird, the quetzal.
He is the older brother of track cyclist Juliana Gaviria.
Gaviria was a talented track cyclist before focusing on the road, winning a silver medal in the omnium at the 2015 Pan American Games.
“You have to be a little crazy to be a sprinter, but you also have to be smart.”
