Costa Rican cyclist Andrey Amador moves into third place in the Giro d’Italia

Cyclist Andrey Amador made history Saturday after moving into third place in the Giro d’Italia, the highest ranking ever achieved by a Costa Rican. The Giro d’Italia is the second most prestigious cycling race, following the Tour de France. Amador, 28, began riding professionally in 2006 and is the only Costa Rican to have ever competed in the Tour de France.

Amador, a member of the Movistar cycling team, jumped from 8th to 3rd place after placing 15th in the 14th stage of the tour, a 59.4-kilometer time trial race. Despite pouring rain, Amador managed to secure a personal best time of 1:19:40, just 1:48 behind the stage’s leader, the Belarusian Vasil Kiryienka. The Costa Rican now sits just 3’36” behind the race’s leader, legendary Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador.

Watch Amador in the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia

https://vine.co/v/eqvjZqgwJPA

“I was able to do well today, but the important thing is that I got to where I am now,” Amador told Costa Rican daily La Nación after his big finish. “There are tough mountainous days ahead and that is going to be difficult, but I am motivated and want to keep fighting to see how far we can get.”

There are seven stages remaining in the Giro d’Italia, the last of which will be held in Torino on May 31.