Martín Emilio Rodríguez facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martín Emilio Rodríguez Gutiérrez | ||
| Nickname | Cochise | ||
| Born | 14 April 1942 Medellín, Colombia |
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| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road Track |
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| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climbing specialist | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Martín Emilio Rodríguez Gutiérrez (born on April 14, 1942), known by his famous nickname Cochise, is a retired Colombian cyclist. He was amazing at both road racing and track cycling.
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Who is Martín "Cochise" Rodríguez?
Martín Emilio Rodríguez, or "Cochise" as he's widely known, is a true legend in Colombian cycling. He started his cycling journey in 1961. He quickly became famous for his strength and speed on the bike. Cochise is remembered for his many wins and for being one of the first Colombian cyclists to compete successfully on the world stage.
Early Wins and Records
Cochise first competed in the Vuelta a Colombia in 1961. This is a very important bike race in Colombia. Just two years later, in 1963, he won the Vuelta a Colombia for the first time! He went on to win this tough race four times in total. He also became the Colombian road racing champion in 1965.
Cochise was also a star in track cycling. He won gold medals in the 4,000-meter pursuit event. He achieved these wins at the Central American Games in 1962, the Bolivarian Games in 1965, and the Pan-American Games in 1967. He also won the Clásico RCN in 1963, another big race in Colombia. He won the Vuelta al Táchira in Venezuela three times.
One of his most incredible achievements happened on October 7, 1970. Cochise broke the world hour record! He rode an amazing distance of 47.566 kilometers in just one hour. This showed how strong and determined he was.
Becoming a Professional Cyclist
In 1971, Cochise won the Amateur 4,000-meter individual track pursuit at the Track World Championships in Italy. This was a huge win for him and for Colombia.
After his amateur success, Cochise became a professional cyclist in 1973. He joined big European teams and competed against the best cyclists in the world. He even won two stages in the famous Giro d'Italia race. He also teamed up with the great Italian champion Felice Gimondi for special two-man time trial events. Together, they won the 1973 Baracchi Trophy.
Cochise also rode in the 1975 Tour de France, which is one of the most famous bike races in the world. He finished 27th overall, which was a great achievement for a Colombian cyclist at that time. After 1975, Cochise returned to Colombia. He continued to race as an amateur and even won a stage in the Vuelta a Colombia in 1980.
His Famous Nickname
You might wonder where the nickname "Cochise" came from. Martín Emilio Rodríguez was a big fan of the Apache chief Cochise. He admired the chief's strength and leadership. So, people started calling him "Cochise," and the name stuck!
Olympic Games Participation
Martín "Cochise" Rodríguez also represented Colombia in the Olympic Games. He competed in cycling events at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1968 Summer Olympics. This shows his dedication to the sport and his country.
Major Achievements
Cochise had many important wins throughout his career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:
Road Racing Highlights
- Vuelta a Colombia: He won the overall race four times (1963, 1964, 1966, 1967). He also won many individual stages in different years.
- Clásico RCN: He won this important Colombian race in 1963.
- Vuelta al Táchira: He won this Venezuelan race three times (1966, 1968, 1971).
- Giro d'Italia: He won two stages in this major Italian race (1973, 1975).
- International Medals: He won gold medals in road race and team time trial events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1966 and 1970.
Track Cycling Highlights
- World Hour Record: In 1970, he set a new world record for the furthest distance cycled in one hour (47.566 km).
- UCI Amateur Track World Championships: He won the gold medal in the individual pursuit event in 1971.
- Pan American Games: He won gold medals in individual pursuit and team pursuit in 1967 and 1971.
- Other Medals: He won gold medals in individual pursuit at the Central American and Caribbean Games (1962, 1966, 1970) and the Bolivarian Games (1965, 1970).
Martín "Cochise" Rodríguez is a true inspiration in the world of cycling. His hard work and many victories made him a national hero in Colombia and a respected figure in international cycling.
See also
In Spanish: Martín Emilio Rodríguez para niños
