Rafael Antonio Niño

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Rafael Antonio Niño


fullname = Rafael Antonio Niño Munévar
nickname = El Niño de Cucaita
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1949|12|11
country = COL
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = Climbing specialist
amateurteams =
amateuryears =
proyears =
proteams =
majorwins = Vuelta a Colombia (6 times)
Clásico RCN (5 times)
updated = September 6, 2007

Rafael Antonio Niño Munévar (born December 11, 1949 in Cucaita, Boyaca, Colombia) is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist. He won the Vuelta a Colombia in 1970. After that he became a professional cyclist from 1972 to 1973. He participated in the Giro d’Italia. After one year as a professional he returned to Colombia and set up the Banco Cafetero team of which he was the undisputed leader. With this strong team he dominated the Vuelta a Colombia and the Clásico RCN during the 1970’s. [cite book|last=Rendell|first=Matt|title=Kings of the Mountains|publisher=Aurum Press|date=2002|id=ISBN 1854108379] He earned the nickname El Niño de Cucaita. [cite web|url= http://decolombia.net/ciclismo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13|title=Vuelta a Colombia|publisher=decolombia.net|accessdate=2007-08-09] He won a record six editions of the Vuelta a Colombia. After he retired he became a technical director of the Colombia professional cycling team that disputed the Tour de France during the 1980’s, Café de Colombia. [cite web|url=http://www.boyaca.gov.co/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=945|title= Rafael Antonio Niño, nuevo técnico de Lotería de Boyacá|publisher=Boyaca government|accessdate=2007-08-09]

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