Retired since 2016, the former time trial cyclist, Marlon Pérez, died Friday morning, at the age of 48. On Thursday evening, the Colombian suffered a knife attack. A few hours later, he succumbed to his injuries.
Tragic event in Colombia. Cyclist Marlon Pérez died Friday morning. Attacked with a knife the evening before, the 48-year-old former Colombian professional succumbed to his injuries. The Colombian Cycling Federation confirmed the sad news and “mourns the disappearance of Pérez”. “With deep pain and dismay, the Colombian Cycling Federation, the executive committee and its leaders join in the mourning of Marlon Pérez,” she said.
In its press release, the Federation states that this unfortunate event occurred during an “attempted theft, in the municipality of Carmen de Viboral.” According to the first versions reported by local media, in the middle of the altercation, a man stabbed him in the neck, which caused his death in a health center in the early hours of Friday.
Rushed to San Juan de Dios Hospital, where they tried to resuscitate him, Marlon Pérez arrived “without vital signs due to the severity of his injuries.” The person responsible for the stabbing escaped after the tragedy and has not been found.
Three Colombian time trial championship titles
Four years after his debut in 1990, Marlon Pérez won his first title: the Vuelta del Porvenir. The Colombian then distinguished himself by winning the national time trial championship three times (1996, 1999 and 2001).
In Europe, the former cyclist (retired since 2016) notably participated three times in the Giro d’Italia, with a 39th place as his best result. Another achievement, Pérez participated in the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004), on the road and on the track.
