Juan Carlos Arias Acosta (born December 3, 1964) a.k.a "Machete" is a two-time Olympian cyclist from Pereira, Colombia. Arias is a Pan American Champion, who has raced in the Giro d'Italia and the UCI Road World Championships, among other events.

Juan Carlos Arias is the only Colombian athlete to date to represent the country in two different sports in the Olympics. Juan Carlos Arias has been riding since 1982 out of Colombia S.A. and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his family and children. Prior to becoming a professional cyclist, Juan Carlos Arias played soccer for Maracaneiro Football Club in Bogotá, Colombia.