Rafael Antonio Niño | |
Fullname: | Rafael Antonio Niño Munévar |
Nickname: | El Niño de Cucaita |
Birth Date: | 11 December 1949 |
Birth Place: | Cucaita, Colombia |
Currentteam: | Retired |
Discipline: | Road |
Role: | Rider |
Ridertype: | Climbing specialist |
Amateuryears1: | 1970 |
Amateurteam1: | Junta administradora de deportes |
Amateuryears2: | 1971 |
Amateurteam2: | Singer |
Amateuryears3: | 1972 |
Amateurteam3: | Postobón |
Amateuryears4: | 1973 |
Amateurteam4: | Ferretería Reina Ltda |
Amateuryears5: | 1975–1977 |
Amateurteam5: | Banco Cafetero |
Amateuryears6: | 1978 |
Amateurteam6: | Benotto |
Amateuryears7: | 1979 |
Amateurteam7: | Lotería de Boyacá |
Amateuryears8: | 1980 |
Amateurteam8: | Droguería Yaneth |
Amateuryears9: | 1981–1982 |
Amateurteam9: | Lotería de Boyacá |
Proyears1: | 1974 |
Majorwins: | Vuelta a Colombia (6 times) Clásico RCN (5 times) |
Rafael Antonio Niño Munévar (born 11 December 1949) is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist. He won the Vuelta a Colombia in 1970. After that he became a professional cyclist from 1973 to 1974. He participated in the Giro d'Italia. After one year as a professional he returned to Colombia and set up the Banco Cafetero team of which he was the undisputed leader. With this strong team he dominated the Vuelta a Colombia and the Clásico RCN during the 1970s.[1] He earned the nickname El Niño de Cucaita.[2] He won a record six editions of the Vuelta a Colombia. After he retired he became a technical director of the Colombia professional cycling team, Café de Colombia, that participated in the Tour de France winning several stages during the 1980s.[3]