The Most Unexpected Teammate of the 2025 Women’s Tour of Colombia
We’ve always known that dogs are man’s best friend. Anyone lucky enough to share life with a dog knows the joy, loyalty, and energy they bring into our lives.
Today, we want to tell you a story that’s been making the rounds across Colombia. It’s the tale of a dog who escaped from home and ended up joining the cyclists during one of the toughest stages of the Women’s Tour of Colombia—right in the middle of the legendary Alto de La Línea.
The Women’s Tour of Colombia is one of the country’s most important cycling events. It brings together top female riders from Colombia and around the world to race across multiple stages through diverse and challenging terrain.
Picture :FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE CICLISMO
In the 2025 edition, during the second stage—known as the “Queen Stage”—something completely unexpected happened. As the riders began the demanding climb from Girardot to Alto de La Línea, a golden-colored stray dog joined the peloton. Without disrupting the race, he ran alongside the cyclists with surprising energy and determination.
Picture :FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE CICLISMO
The climb to Alto de La Línea is one of the most iconic mountain passes in Colombia, with over 3,700 meters of elevation gain across 114.8 kilometers. The dog joined the race around Cajamarca and ran almost 10 kilometers next to the cyclists, especially beside Andrea Ramírez from Mexico, who ended up winning the stage and claiming both the overall lead and the mountain jersey.
Picture :FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE CICLISMO
Andrea affectionately called him her “breakaway companion,” and as soon as she caught her breath at the finish line, she went looking for him. “You can tell he’s from Colombia,” she said with a smile, impressed by his endurance and spirit.
Picture :FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE CICLISMO
On social media, the dog quickly went viral. People gave him various nicknames like “Firubike,” “Firulais,” and the most popular one, “Pogacan,” a play on the name of Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar. Fans flooded the comments with praise: “Let’s go Pogacan,” “The real MVP,” “Best teammate ever.”
Check the video here:
Photos of the dog climbing the mountain, tongue out but still going strong, spread across media outlets and cycling pages. Many said he stole the show, and the race organizers even gave him an honorary title as “the most combative rider of the day” and listed him—symbolically—in the 13th spot of the stage.
Picture :FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE CICLISMO
The Colombian Cycling Federation later confirmed that the dog actually belongs to a family from the area and is known to roam the road between Cajamarca and Alto de La Línea. His impressive stamina likely comes from living at altitude and being used to the cyclists who train and race there.
After the stage ended, the organizers gave him water, food, and safely transported him back home.
More than just a feel-good moment, this story reminds us that cycling isn’t only about winning—it’s about the people (and animals!) we meet along the way, the unexpected surprises, and the joy of sharing the road with others, even if they have four legs and no helmet.
Congratulations to our ambassador Diana Peñuela who won the race!!
