Tour de France: Colombian Rigoberto Uran storms the Alps and the podium
Rigoberto Uran during the 12th stage of the Tour de France, September 10.
Marco BERTORELLO / AFP
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
After the disappointment of outgoing winner Egan Bernal (Ineos), Rigoberto Uran (Education First Pro Cycling), currently third in the Tour de France cyclist in the general classification, could save the Great Loop of the Colombians if he shines during the crossing of the Alps in third week.
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Seventh in the Tour de France 2019, Rigoberto Uran is now with Miguel Ángel López (Astana - 4th at 01'45 ''), the rider who could save the Colombians after the terrible failure of Egan Bernarl during the 15th stage on Sunday 13 September where he was dropped by the yellow jersey group, 13 kilometers from the finish.
The defending champion gave up more than seven minutes to the winner of the day Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) while the yellow jersey is on the shoulders of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).
A practically healed body
Third in the general classification at 01'45 '', will Rigoberto Uran resist during the third week, he who finished second in the Tour in 2017, 54 seconds behind Christopher Froome?
Rigoberto Uran will have to cross the Alps with the best to stay on the podium.
And the menu is quite extensive.
“
My body is almost completely healed.
I did a lot of rehabilitation when I was in Colombia, and I feel it when I get on the bike,
”commented the native of Urrao before the start of the Big Loop.
In September 2019, Uran, 32, had lived a real nightmare on the sixth stage of the Tour of Spain after a fall.
He had fractured his left collarbone, scapula, two ribs and his left lung was perforated.
However, the second in the Tour of Italy 2013 behind Vincenzo Nibali seems to be able to recover from everything.
He was only 14 years old when his father was assassinated by far-right paramilitaries in the midst of violence in Colombia.
At the end of the first week, Uran, sixth overall, just 32 seconds behind the yellow jersey Primoz Roglic looked confident.
"
The sensations are there
", he said on the website of Education First Pro Cycling training.
Friday September 11, his teammate and compatriot Daniel Martinez, won at Puy Mary during the fourteenth stage, enough to give even more confidence to the team to support the leader.
Plus the support of Sergio Higuita
The only downside, the Colombian champion Sergio Higuita was forced to retire during the 15th stage.
One less help for Uran during this third week which promises to be daunting.
Until then he could count on this talented young climber, his best support in the mountains with Daniel Martinez.
“
The coming week is an important week and when you lose a teammate it makes everyone a little sad, but we're just relieved that his injuries aren't serious, he's fine.
We just have to make sure that we will be focused until the last day,
”comments Rigoberto Uran.
"
Rigoberto is doing very well, he could win the Tour, or at least be on the podium and I wanted to be there with him
", regrets Sergio Higuita.
If he keeps his third place, Rigoberto Uran could climb for the second time in his career on the official podium when he arrives on the Champs-Elysées on Sunday, September 20.
Not enough to forget the disappointment of Bernal for the Colombian people who will still be able to console themselves a little with a good performance by Rigoberto Uran.
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