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) is a famous retired cyclist from Colombia. People know him best by his nickname, Cochise. He was amazing at both road cycling and track cycling.
Cochise started his first big race, the Vuelta a Colombia, in 1961. This race is a very important cycling event in Colombia. Just two years later, in 1963, he won the Vuelta a Colombia for the first time! He went on to win this race four times in total.
He also won other major races. He won the Clásico RCN in 1963, which is Colombia's second most important stage race. In Venezuela, he won the Vuelta al Táchira three times.
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Why "Cochise"?
Martín Emilio Rodríguez got his nickname "Cochise" because he really admired an old Apache chief named Cochise. It was a way to show respect for the chief's strength and leadership.
Becoming a World Champion
Cochise was not just good in Colombia. He won gold medals in many international events.
- In 1962, he won gold in the 4,000-meter pursuit at the Central American Games.
- He also won gold at the Bolivarian Games in 1965.
- He won at the American Games in 1965 and 1966.
- In 1967, he won gold at the Pan-American Games.
One of his most amazing achievements happened on October 7, 1970. Cochise broke the world hour record! He cycled a distance of 47.566 kilometers in just one hour. This was a huge deal in the cycling world.
In 1971, he became a world champion in track cycling. He won the Amateur 4,000-meter individual pursuit at the Track World Championships in Italy. He beat a strong Swiss rider named Josef Fuchs.
Professional Cycling Career
In 1973, Cochise became a professional cyclist. This meant he would race against the best riders from around the world. He joined a team and quickly showed his talent.
- He won two stages in the famous Giro d'Italia race.
- He teamed up with a great Italian champion, Felice Gimondi, for two-man time trial races. They won the 1973 Baracchi Trophy together.
Cochise even rode in the 1975 Tour de France, which is one of the toughest cycling races in the world. He finished 27th overall, which was a great result for him.
After 1975, Cochise went back to Colombia. He continued to race as an amateur. He even won a final stage in the Vuelta a Colombia in 1980.
Olympics and Beyond
Cochise also represented Colombia in the Olympic Games. He competed in cycling at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Today, Cochise is still involved in cycling. He works with a Colombian professional team called Indeportes Antioquia. This team includes other famous cyclists like former time trial world champion Santiago Botero.
Major Achievements Summary
Cochise had a very successful career. Here are some of his biggest wins:
- Vuelta a Colombia: 4 times (1963, 1965, 1966, 1967)
- Vuelta al Táchira: 3 times (1966, 1968, 1971)
- Clásico RCN: 1 time (1963)
- World Hour Record: 1970
- UCI Amateur Track World Championships: Individual pursuit (1971)
- Giro d'Italia: 2 stage wins (1973, 1975)
Grand Tour Results
Here's how Cochise finished in some of the biggest professional cycling races:
| Grand Tour | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia |
41 | 18 | 33 |
 Tour de France |
— | — | 27 |
 Vuelta a España |
— | — | — |
See also
In Spanish: Martín Emilio Rodríguez para niños
