This started with a Colombian National Cycling team entering and winning the Tour de l'Avenir in 1980 with Alfonso Flórez.

The 1983 Tour de France was the first time that the race was "open" to accommodate amateurs to compete.

[1] The following year the Colombian national team, with sponsorship from VARTA batteries, returned to the 1984 Tour de France where Luis Herrera, still an amateur, won the stage to the Alpe d'Huez.

[3] The following year Raphaël Géminiani was team manager together with Jorge Humberto Tenjo Porras.

Pedro Pablo Valdivieso Ayala and José Gabriel Castro Medina would also be directeur sportifs with the team.