Alejandro Osorio blames Bahrain - Victorious for "the destruction of my career" after allegations of contract breaches

Alejandro Osorio has had a very successful few weeks, taking the title at the Colombian National Championships and a stage win of the Tour Colombia. As he reveals though, it's been a long road back to success after his acrimonious exit from Bahrain - Victorious.

Osorio signed for Bahrain - Victorious at the start of the 2022 season but just a few months later he was out the door due to alleged 'multiple contract breaches'. “It was unjust, it wasn’t anything big enough to destroy a person like that,” Osorio reflected on the situation in conversation with Cycling News. “For me it was like the destruction of my career, so now I’m just enjoying being where I am. But if God wants me in Europe, I’d go gladly.”

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Currently riding for GW Erco Shimano, Osorio reveals he felt helpless when trying to defend himself from the allegations nearly two years ago. “I couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer to appeal it against a team like Bahrain who have a lot of money,” he explains.

“One day I went to eat at a gelateria, and I was told I wasn't following the nutritionist's instructions,” Osorio says of what the contract breaches were. “Another day I went to a shopping centre to buy a sim card and I was told I’d broken the COVID health bubble. I was under a lot of pressure. Then I was very sick after Strade Bianche, I was vomiting, and they put me in isolation. I went home to Andorra without taking my helmet from the bus. Once I was there, I said to myself that I shouldn’t go out wearing another brand’s helmet, and I made the mistake of uploading a friend’s ride into my TrainingPeaks profile. That was the most serious thing I did. Yes, it was a mistake, but not big enough to destroy a person like they did.”

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Nevertheless, Osorio remains hopeful of one day returning to the elite of professional cycling. “I’m still only 25. Maybe with the generation coming up, it’s not that young. But I still feel young, and I’d like to go back. I think I have talent," he insists. 

“I’m going to Europe soon for the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, which is a race I like a lot, and it suits me well too. Every day is hard, like a Classic,” Osorio concludes. “With the national title and a win at Tour Colombia, I’ve achieved two dreams already this year. I’d like a third at Coppi e Bartali.”

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Boom! The Colombian road race champion Alejandro Osorio wins the third stage of Tour Colombia! 🇨🇴#TourColombia2024

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