Argentinian road race champion Maximilian Richeze (Deceuninck-QuickStep)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Max Richeze rides the new Specialized Creo(Image credit: Josh Evans)
Argentina's Max Richeze (Deceuninck-QuickStep) can expect plenty of South American support in Colombia(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fabio Jakobsen is congratulated by Deceuninck-QuickStep teammate and Argentinean road race champion Max Richeze after winning stage 4 of the 2019 Tour of California(Image credit: Getty Images)
Michael Morkov retains his Danish title, while Max Richeze won his Argentine jersey back in April(Image credit: Getty Images)
Maximiliano Richeze won gold at the Pan American Games road race in Lima, Peru, at the weekend, becoming the first Argentinian rider to take the title since 1959.
Richeze, who was riding at the Pan-Am Games for his national team, is best known for his lead-out roles for sprinters such as Elia Viviani at Belgian WorldTour team Deceuninck-QuickStep, and is also the current Argentinian road race champion.
According to the Deceuninck-QuickStep website, Richeze went solo to close a 1:30 time gap to a front group of six riders that were still away late in the race, and then out-sprinted Mexico's Ignacio de Jesus Prado and Bryan Gomez of Colombia to win the 177km based around the Circuito de Playas de Costa Verde alongside the beach in Lima.
"I'm very happy about this victory, and to bring the medal home for Argentina," Richeze said. "It was difficult after a hard Tour de France, but I was very motivated, the team did a great job, and I managed to finish it off."
The title was last taken by an Argentinian in 1959, when the Pan-Am Games road race was won by Ricardo Senn.
"It wasn't easy today, but this only makes the win even more special. I want to dedicate this victory to my wife, my daughter, my family, and my friends," said Richeze.
The 36-year-old recently announced that he would be leaving Deceuninck-QuickStep at the end of this season to join UAE Team Emirates, where he'll be reunited with young sprinter and former Deceuninck teammate Fernando Gaviria.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
