Esteban Chaves facts for kids
Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (born on January 17, 1990) is a professional road bicycle racer from Colombia. He currently rides for the EF Education–EasyPost team. Esteban, often called Chavito or "the Smiling Assassin," is known for his friendly personality and strong climbing skills. He has achieved great success in major cycling races, including finishing on the podium in two Grand Tours and winning a famous "Monument" race.
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Chaves at the 2015 Vuelta a España
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio | ||
| Nickname | Chavito, El Chivo, the Smiling Assassin | ||
| Born | 17 January 1990 Bogotá, Colombia |
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| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Weight | 54 kg (119 lb; 8.5 st) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | EF Education–EasyPost | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climber | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Contents
Esteban Chaves' Cycling Journey
Starting Out as a Young Rider
Esteban Chaves began his cycling career as an amateur. In 2011, he won the Tour de l'Avenir race in France. This race is important because many future Tour de France winners have also won it. Esteban showed his climbing skills early on, taking the mountains jersey in the first stages. He worked hard and eventually won the race by a small margin of 17 seconds.
Turning Professional
In 2012, Esteban became a professional cyclist with the Colombia–Coldeportes team. He quickly showed his talent. He finished second in the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia race. Soon after, he won a stage in the Vuelta a Burgos race, which was his first professional victory. He also won the Gran Premio Città di Camaiore in Italy that same year.
Overcoming a Big Challenge
In February 2013, Esteban had a very serious crash during a race. He suffered many injuries, including broken bones in his collarbone, face, and ribs. It was a difficult time, but he worked incredibly hard to recover. His determination helped him get back on his bike and compete again.
Joining Orica–GreenEDGE
In 2014, Esteban joined the Orica–GreenEDGE team (which later became Mitchelton–Scott and then Team BikeExchange–Jayco). This move helped him reach new levels in his career.
Amazing Year in 2015
The year 2015 was fantastic for Esteban. At the 2015 Vuelta a España, one of cycling's biggest races, he won two stages. He even wore the red jersey, which means he was leading the race overall for several days. He ended up finishing fifth overall in the Vuelta, which was a great achievement. He also won the 2015 Abu Dhabi Tour that year.
Big Successes in 2016 and 2017
2016 was another incredible year for Esteban. He finished second in the 2016 Giro d'Italia and third in the 2016 Vuelta a España. These are two of the three "Grand Tours" in cycling, showing he was one of the best riders in the world.
On October 1, 2016, Esteban made history by winning 2016 Il Lombardia. This is one of cycling's five "Monuments," which are the oldest and most respected one-day races. It was his first Monument win and the first for a Colombian cyclist.
In 2017, he competed in the 2017 Tour de France for the first time. He also returned to the 2017 Vuelta a España, where he showed good form.
Victories in 2018 and 2019
Esteban started 2018 strong by winning the Herald Sun Tour in Australia. He won a stage and held onto the overall lead. He also won a stage at the 2018 Giro d'Italia. In 2019, he won another stage at the 2019 Giro d'Italia, showing his continued strength.
Moving to EF Education–EasyPost
After eight successful seasons with his previous team, Esteban Chaves joined the EF Education–EasyPost team in 2022. He continues to compete at the highest level of professional cycling. In 2023, he won the Colombian National Road Race Championships, becoming the national champion.
Major Achievements
- 2011
- Won the overall Tour de l'Avenir
- 2012
- Won Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
- Won Stage 5 of Vuelta a Burgos
- 2014
- Won Stage 8 of Tour de Suisse
- Won Stage 6 of Tour of California
- 2015
- Won the overall Abu Dhabi Tour and Stage 3
- Won Stages 2 and 6 of Vuelta a España
- Won Stage 1 (Team Time Trial) of Giro d'Italia
- 2016
- Won Giro di Lombardia (a "Monument" race)
- Won Giro dell'Emilia
- Finished 2nd overall in Giro d'Italia and won Stage 14
- Finished 3rd overall in Vuelta a España
- 2018
- Won the overall Herald Sun Tour and Stage 3
- Won Stage 6 of Giro d'Italia
- 2019
- Won Stage 19 of Giro d'Italia
- 2021
- Won Stage 4 of Volta a Catalunya
- 2023
- Won the National Road Race Championships
See also
In Spanish: Esteban Chaves para niños
