Alberto Velázquez

Uruguayan cyclist Alberto Velázquez began his career with a third place finish at the 1954 edition of the Vuelta a Uruguay. One year later Velázquez competed at the Pan American Games where he won silver in both the 4,000 metres team pursuit and the team road race, and bronze in the individual road race. These performances earned him a place on the Olympic team for the 1956 Melbourne Games, where he competed on both the road and track. Back home he won a couple of stages at the Vuelta a Uruguay before returning to the Olympics in Roma in 1960. In 1963 Velázquez won gold as part of the quartet that won the 4,000 metres team pursuit at the Pan American Games in São Paulo.

Velázquez finished his career as one of the best cyclists to come from Uruguay, winning more than 60 titles. To recognise his performances he was honoured by the Departmental Board of Montevideo in 2003. In 2018 he was presented with the José Nasazzi - Obdulio Varela award by Uruguay’s House of Representatives.