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]

Rafael Antonio Niño
Personal information
Full nameRafael Antonio Niño Munévar
NicknameEl Niño de Cucaita
Born (1949-12-11) 11 December 1949 (age 74)
Cucaita, Colombia
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimbing specialist
Amateur teams
1970Junta administradora de deportes
1971Singer
1972Postobón
1973Ferretería Reina Ltda
1975–1977Banco Cafetero
1978Benotto
1979Lotería de Boyacá
1980Droguería Yaneth
1981–1982Lotería de Boyacá
Professional team
1974Jollj Ceramica
Major wins
Vuelta a Colombia (6 times)
Clásico RCN (5 times)

Major results

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1970
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1971
1st   Overall Clásico RCN
3rd Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1972
1st Stage 6 Vuelta a Colombia
2nd Overall Vuelta al Táchira
1st Sprints classification
3rd Overall Clásico RCN
1973
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Stages 2 & 6
1975
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Mountains classification
1st Stages 7, 10 & 12
1st   Overall Clásico RCN
1st Points classification
1st Mountains classification
1st Combined classification
1st Stages 4 & 5
1976
1st Stages 3b & 4 Vuelta a Boyacá
1977
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Points classification
1st Mountains classification
1st Combined classification
1st Stages 1, 7, 10 & 11
1st   Overall Clásico RCN
1st Points classification
2nd Overall Vuelta a Cundinamarca
1st Points classification
1st Stages 1 & 6
1978
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Stage 4
1st   Overall Clásico RCN
1st Points classification
1st Mountains classification
1st Combined classification
1st Stages 3a & 5
1979
1st   Overall Clásico RCN
1st Combined classification
1st Stage 4
4th Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1980
1st   Overall Vuelta a Colombia
1st Stages 6 & 13
1981
1st Stage 11 Vuelta a Colombia

References

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  1. ^ Rendell, Matt (2002). Kings of the Mountains. Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-837-9.
  2. ^ "Vuelta a Colombia". decolombia.net. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  3. ^ "Rafael Antonio Niño, nuevo técnico de Lotería de Boyacá". Boyaca government. Retrieved 2007-08-09.