There are countries that produce racing cyclists. And then there is Colombia - a country where cycling is not a hobby, but an identity. Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán: the list of Colombian riders who have left their mark on Grand Tours is long. What was missing for a long time was a clothing brand that did justice to this heritage. Carlos Suárez has built it.
From the velodrome to the workshop
Carlos Suárez was a racer himself - BMX, mountain bike, track. From 1984, he was one of the best track riders in Colombia. He knew what an ill-fitting jersey felt like at 60 km/h on the track - and how seams chafe in the Colombian climate when the padding has long been worn through after four hours in the saddle. International brands were expensive and tailored to European conditions. There were hardly any Colombian alternatives.
In the mid-1990s, Suárez got serious. He began producing his own cycling clothing in a small workshop in Medellín. No investors, no business plan - just a rider, a sewing machine and the conviction that Colombia deserved its own cycling brand. This grew into a company with over 200 employees, which today produces more than 750,000 items per year. Carlos Suárez still heads the company as founder and president.
Medellín: Where altitude meters are part of quality control
The factory is located in Medellín, 1,500 meters above sea level, surrounded by climbs that push professional riders to their limits. Developers here test under real conditions: Heat in the valley, cold at 3,000 meters, tropical humidity twelve months a year.
Suarez imports some of the fabrics from Italy, but combines them with local production. Everything is cut, sewn and checked in-house - no outsourcing, no third-party production. The seat upholstery is also made in-house - developed and produced in Medellín. While most brands buy their pads from Elastic Interface in Italy, Suarez controls the entire chain - from the foam to the finished bib shorts. The factory relies on energy-efficient processes and recycles production waste - Suarez has not yet communicated specific certifications, but vertical integration reduces transport routes and middlemen.
Official partner of Colombian cycling
Suarez has been officially equipping the Colombian Cycling Federation (Federación Colombiana de Ciclismo) for over 16 years. The yellow, blue and red jersey worn by Colombian riders at the World Championships and Olympic Games comes from Medellín.
The partnership goes beyond logos on jerseys. National coaches and top riders test Suarez clothing under competitive conditions - on the track, on the road, in time trials. What works for the national team is incorporated into the series collection.
The Colombian delegation wore Suarez at the Olympic Games. Mariana Pajón - two-time Olympic champion in BMX (London 2012, Rio 2016) - rode to silver in Tokyo 2020 in Suarez clothing. The yellow, blue and red jersey from Medellín on the Olympic podium - you can't buy better advertising.
Beyond Colombia: licenses and custom
The expansion began in 2019, when Suarez launched an official Tour de France collection under license from A.S.O. to mark the 100th anniversary of the maillot jaune - one of only a few brands in the world allowed to do so. The collection includes replica jerseys of all four Tour classification jerseys, manufactured in Medellín with the same quality standards as the race clothing. A licensed Giro d'Italia collection was added later. This is a remarkable position for a Colombian brand that holds official licenses for the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.
In 2022, Suarez became the title sponsor of the Gran Fondo National Series in the USA - the largest amateur racing series in North America. This gives the brand a visible presence not only in professional sport, but also in the amateur cycling scene.
There is also a custom program that offers team kits with no minimum order quantity. While European suppliers often demand 10, 20 or 50 pieces as a minimum, Suarez manufactures from a single part. For small clubs, company teams and cycling groups who want a professional kit without having to buy hundreds of parts, this is a real argument.
The range: five lines, one claim
Suarez divides its range into five lines: Pro, Performance, Avant, Classic and Mountain Bike. The Pro line is aimed at competition riders - aerodynamic cuts, compressive fabrics, the company's own seat pads in the highest density level. The Performance line uses the same fabrics and padding, but offers more room for longer days in the saddle. The Avant line starts at around 90 dollars and is aimed at riders who want solid workmanship without investing in the professional category. Classic and Mountain Bike round off the range - the former for everyday use, the latter with more robust fabrics and a looser cut. Weather protection - packable jackets, lightweight wind vests - comes from the development for Colombian mountain weather, where conditions can change completely within a single descent.
Why we carry Suarez
Suarez is not a European brand that uses Colombian aesthetics as a marketing motif. Suarez is Colombia - founded by a Colombian rider, made in Medellín, worn by the national team. A pro jersey costs around 130 dollars, bib shorts around 125 - about half of what Assos or Castelli charge for their top lines. The fabrics come from the same Italian weaving mills, the pads are made in-house.
At Kilometro, we stock Suarez because the origin and the product go together. Anyone who wears Suarez is wearing Colombian cycling history - from the workshop in Medellín to the mountain passes above the city.