Ernesto Contreras

Ernesto Contreras wanted to initially be a footballer, but turned to cycling at the age of 19 using a borrowed bicycle, and he went on to become one of Argentina’s best known cyclists. He appeared in three Olympics, and also competed at the Pan American Games, winning a silver medal with the pursuit team that also included Alberto Trillo, Héctor Acosta, and Juan Broto. Contreras won another team pursuit silver at the 1968 World Championships in Montevideo, this time with Carlos Miguel Álvarez, Juan Alves, and Juan Alberto Merlos. Contreras also appeared at the 1959 (Amsterdam), 1961 (Zürich), and 1962 (Milano) World Championships.

Contreras won the first of his 12 national titles in 1956 and was the individual pursuit champion in the eight years from 1956-63. He was also the national road race campion in 1959, and 1970-71, and the one kilometer track champion in 1961. He was three times the winner of the Mendoza to San Juan race between 1958-64, and won the grueling “Cross of the Andres” race in 1968 and 1973. In the five editions between 1967-73, he never finished lower than third. Contreras contracted Covid 19 in 2020, but died in hospital from a heart attack after a gallstone problem.