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.”

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.”

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.”