His father fell victim to Colombia’s internecine violence when Uran was 14, a painful crossroads he consistently and politely declines to describe. The teenager went to work selling lottery tickets to help sustain his mother and sister, but his precocious cycling talent proved to be the real payoff, launching him into the lower tier of the European pro peloton at age 19. He has since competed for teams based in five countries, including Great Britain’s Sky, for which he rode from 2011 to 2013.
.. Cannondale-Drapac manager Jonathan Vaughters said his team will be motivated by not only the prospect of a title but also the quality of the person who would win it.
“He is the best leadership figure as a rider I’ve ever worked with, ever,” Vaughters said. “That includes my riding days. Rigo is a leader by example. He never shows up to a race even a pound overweight. He is always 100 percent dedicated to his training, his diet, his focus. He does everything the best he can always, not just some of the time. That, right there, inspires the guys to raise their level.”