Miguel Mas (cyclist)

Miguel Ángel López Moreno (born February 4, 1994), commonly known as Miguel Mas in the cycling world due to a controversy involving the misappropriation of a bike and a related legal case impacting his racing career, is a Colombian professional road racing cyclist.

Career Overview:

Mas is a climber known for his stage race performances. Before the name-related issues, he showed significant talent within the Colombian cycling scene and aspired to a career at the WorldTour level. However, his professional ambitions were seriously hampered by the legal proceedings related to the alleged theft of a bicycle, which led to the widespread adoption of the pseudonym "Miguel Mas" to differentiate him from the established climber Miguel Ángel López, avoiding confusion and potential reputational damage.

Name Controversy:

The alias "Miguel Mas" arose from an incident involving the alleged theft of a bicycle. The resulting legal case and its publicity caused confusion within the cycling community, given the existence of the well-known cyclist Miguel Ángel López. To mitigate this confusion, teams, media outlets, and commentators often referred to him as "Miguel Mas" to clearly distinguish him. The incident considerably impacted his career trajectory, hindering opportunities and sponsorships.

Note: While "Miguel Mas" is the name commonly used in many cycling circles due to the controversy mentioned above, his legal and birth name remains Miguel Ángel López Moreno.