First non-European Vuelta winner accused of killing his neighbors, ex-cyclist responds and cooperates with investigation

Noticias Uno broke this shocking news after they were able to track down the perpetrators of the murders, who then told the news outlet that Herrera had convinced them to kill four 'guerrilla fighters.' According to their statements, they were given two envelopes — one containing money and another with photos of the guerrilla fighters they were supposed to eliminate.

After the murders were brutally carried out — the victims had their throats slit, were chopped into pieces, and buried — the killers discovered that the four men were not guerrilla fighters at all. In fact, they were Herrera's neighbors, whose land he had his eye on. Herrera has not yet responded to the allegations, although Noticias Uno did report that an investigation has been opened against him.

Herrera, one of the most successful riders in Colombian cycling history, raced in the peloton during the 1980s and early 1990s. He managed to win the King of the Mountains jersey in all three Grand Tours and even became the first non-European to win the Vuelta in 1987 — the biggest victory of his career.

The Colombian truly put cycling on the map for his country. In addition to the mountain jerseys and overall Vuelta win, he also claimed at least one stage win in each Grand Tour and secured a total of five mountain jerseys. In 1985, he won the polka dot jersey in the Tour de France for the first time, the same year Bernard Hinault took the overall title. If the allegations turn out to be true, this story could completely shatter the legacy of Herrera’s great name.

The day after the accusations came to light, Herrera spoke out on his Instagram. “I have never been part of a criminal organization,” he said in a statement denying the allegations.

“I have great respect for the role of the media and the right of citizens to be informed. That’s why I’m willing to publicly respond as soon as I have concrete and precise knowledge of the case. That way, I can prove my complete innocence,” said the 63-year-old Herrera.

Ironically, Herrera himself was once a victim of criminals. In 2000, three years after retiring from cycling, he was kidnapped by the guerrilla group FARC, but released in less than 24 hours. “I have sought proper legal counsel and have made myself available to the attorney general’s office to provide clarification,” he added.