Rigoberto Urán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rigoberto Urán

Urán in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Rigoberto Urán Urán
Nickname	The Bull from Urrao, Rigo Norrea, Mick Jagger
Born	(1987-01-26) 26 January 1987 (age 38) Urrao, Colombia
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb; 9 st 13 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Climber
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 1 individual stage (2017) Giro d'Italia Young rider classification (2012) 2 individual stages (2013, 2014) 1 TTT stage (2013) Vuelta a España 1 individual stage (2022) One-day races and Classics National Time Trial Championships (2015) GP de Québec (2015) Milano–Torino (2017) Gran Piemonte (2012)

Rigoberto Urán Urán (born January 26, 1987) is a famous Colombian road racing cyclist. He rode his bike professionally from 2006 until 2024. During his career, Urán won 15 races, including stages in all three major cycling tours: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. He also won a silver medal in the road race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Rigoberto made history as the first Colombian to finish on the podium (top three) of the Giro d'Italia. He came in second place in 2013, after taking over as team leader when his captain, Bradley Wiggins, had to leave the race. He also won a mountain stage in that race. The year before, in 2012, he won the white jersey for the best young rider and finished seventh overall. In the 2014 Giro d'Italia, he finished second again, this time behind his fellow Colombian, Nairo Quintana. At the 2017 Tour de France, Urán won a stage and finished second overall, just behind the winner, Chris Froome.

Rigoberto Urán's Early Life

Rigoberto Urán first started cycling when he was 14 years old. His father introduced him to the sport. Sadly, a few months later, his father was killed in a difficult situation. This meant Rigoberto had to start working to help his family. He sold lottery tickets to earn money. At just 16 years old, he became a professional cyclist. He moved to Medellín to ride for a Colombian team called Orgullo Paisa.

Rigoberto Urán's Cycling Career

Starting Out: Tenax and Unibet (2006–2007)

When he was 19, Rigoberto moved to Italy to join Team Tenax. The next year, he signed with another team, Unibet. In 2007, he won a time trial race at the Euskal Bizikleta. He also won a stage in the 2007 Tour de Suisse, where he broke away from a big group of riders to win. He finished ninth overall in that race. Later, during the 2007 Deutschland Tour, he crashed badly. He broke both of his elbows and his right wrist.

Joining Caisse d'Epargne (2008–2010)

Urán at the 2010 Giro d'Italia

In 2008, Rigoberto joined the Caisse d'Epargne team. He finished second in the 2008 Volta a Catalunya and third in the Giro di Lombardia, a very important one-day race. He also competed in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games road race but did not finish. In 2009, he finished fifth overall at the 2009 Tour de Romandie. He also rode in his first Tour de France, finishing 52nd. In 2010, he competed in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and finished seventh overall in the 2010 Tour de Suisse. He also rode the 2010 Vuelta a España but had a fall that stopped him from getting a high overall place.

Riding for Team Sky (2011–2013)

2011 Season Highlights

Urán riding for Sky at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné

Urán joined Team Sky in 2011. He finished fifth in the 2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège race and fourth overall in the 2011 Volta a Catalunya. In the 2011 Tour de France, he became the team leader after Bradley Wiggins crashed. Rigoberto finished fifth on one stage and wore the jersey for the best young rider for a few days. He ended up 24th overall. He also got a third-place finish at the 2011 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec in Canada.

2012 Season Successes

In 2012, Urán got his first win for Team Sky at the 2012 Volta a Catalunya. He won a sprint from a small group of riders. He finished fifth overall in that race.

At the 2012 Giro d'Italia, he won the award for the best young rider. He also finished seventh overall in the race. He was strong in the mountain stages, often finishing in the top ten.

Rigoberto won a silver medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics road race. He was in a breakaway with another rider, Alexander Vinokourov, near the end. Urán looked back to check on the other riders, and Vinokourov surprised him by starting his sprint early. Urán couldn't catch up and finished second. Later that year, he won the 2012 Gran Piemonte race in Italy. He also finished third in the 2012 Giro di Lombardia, another important one-day race, despite cold and rainy weather.

2013 Giro d'Italia Performance

Urán was chosen for the 2013 Giro d'Italia to help his team leader, Bradley Wiggins. His team won the team time trial on Stage 2, and Rigoberto moved up to third overall. On Stage 10, a mountain stage, Urán attacked on the final climb and won the stage! He moved up to third overall. When Wiggins had to leave the race due to illness, Urán became Team Sky's main rider. He rode strongly and finished second overall in the Giro d'Italia. This was his first time on the podium of a Grand Tour race.

In August 2013, it was announced that Urán would leave Team Sky and join the Omega Pharma–Quick Step team for the 2014 season.

Omega Pharma–Quick Step (2014–2015)

Urán in 2014

Urán started his 2014 season well, finishing third overall in the 2014 Tour of Oman. He then led his new team at the 2014 Giro d'Italia.

He had a great first week, staying close to the race leader. On Stage 12, he put in an amazing time trial performance. He not only won the stage but also took the pink jersey, becoming the first Colombian ever to lead the Giro d'Italia! He kept the lead for a few days. However, on Stage 16, he lost his lead to fellow Colombian Nairo Quintana in a controversial moment. Despite this, Urán finished second overall in the Giro, which was still a fantastic result.

Later in 2014, he had to leave the 2014 Vuelta a España because he was sick with asthmatic bronchitis. In 2015, he had a strong start to the season, finishing third in 2015 Tirreno–Adriatico and fifth in two other races. He finished 14th in the Giro that year. Later in 2015, Urán won his first UCI World Tour race, the 2015 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (2016–Present)

2016 Season

In 2016, Urán joined the Cannondale team. He aimed for the 2016 Giro d'Italia but finished seventh overall. He ended the season with a third-place finish at the 2016 Il Lombardia race, which was his third time on the podium there.

2017 Season

Urán (left) following Chris Froome at the 2017 Tour de France

Urán had a much stronger start in 2017. He finished eighth overall in 2017 Tirreno–Adriatico and ninth in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country. He then won Stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France in a very close finish, even though his bike's gears were damaged in a crash! As the Tour continued, Urán was in fourth place, very close to the leader, Chris Froome. Froome saw Urán as his biggest rival. Urán finished second overall in the Tour de France, his first time on the podium in this famous race. His team manager, Jonathan Vaughters, praised him as the best leader he had ever worked with.

2018 Season

After his great Tour de France in 2017, Urán aimed to win in 2018. He started his season in Colombia, finishing third overall in the 2018 Colombia Oro y Paz race, where he also won a stage. In June, he won Stage 3 of the 2018 Tour of Slovenia and took the leader's jersey. He finished second overall in that race. Urán started the 2018 Tour de France as one of the favorites, but he crashed on Stage 9 and hurt his left arm and leg. He had to leave the race after Stage 11. He returned to racing a month later, finishing sixth in the 2018 Clásica de San Sebastián. He then rode the 2018 Vuelta a España and slowly moved up to finish seventh overall, his first top-10 finish in the Vuelta. In October, he finished second in the Giro dell'Emilia race.

2019 Season

Urán had to leave the 2019 Vuelta a España after crashing on Stage 6. He was in sixth place overall at the time. His only top-10 finish that year was at the 2019 Tour de France.

2020 Season

The 2020 cycling season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the 2020 Tour de France, Urán led his team. He avoided crashes and moved up to third place overall before the final week. However, on Stage 17, he lost time in the mountains and dropped to sixth overall. He finished the race in eighth place. He ended the 2020 season with a 15th-place finish at 2020 Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

2021 Season

Urán's first win in 2021 came at the 2021 Tour de Suisse. He won a time trial stage and finished second overall in the race. He led his team at the 2021 Tour de France, reaching second place overall at one point. However, he struggled in the last week and finished tenth overall. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021), Urán finished eighth in both the road race and the time trial.

2022–2023 Seasons

Having already won stages in the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, Urán completed his collection by winning a stage at the 2022 Vuelta a España. He won Stage 17 from a breakaway, sprinting to victory at the top of a climb. This win moved him up to ninth overall in the Vuelta, where he finished. His best one-day result was fifth at the 2022 Giro dell'Emilia.

Urán continued with his team in 2023. He achieved top-ten overall finishes in the 2023 Volta a Catalunya (tenth) and the 2023 Tour de Suisse (sixth).

Major Results

Career Statistics

Grand Tour Results

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	35	—	7	2	2	14	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	DNF	—
Tour de France	—	—	49	—	24	—	—	—	42	—	2	DNF	7	8	10	25	71	—
/ Vuelta a España	—	—	—	31	—	29	27	DNF	—	—	—	7	DNF	—	—	9	—	DNF
Major stage race general classification results
Race	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Paris–Nice	—	—	—	—	29	12	—	—	—	—	—	—	DNF	—	—	—	—	DNF
/ Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	14	—	—	25	31	3	49	8	10	—	—	—	14	—	—
Volta a Catalunya	40	2	13	—	4	5	28	30	5	10	—	—	—	NH	52	—	10	—
Tour of the Basque Country	—	—	—	DNF	60	—	—	—	—	—	9	DNF	—		—	10	18	21
Tour de Romandie	59	20	5	—	—	—	—	14	5	DNF	21	—	—		—	DNF	—	41
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	37	54	—	28	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	22	—	—	—	—
Tour de Suisse	9	—	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	NH	2	DNF	6	—

Classics Results

Major Championships Results

Event		2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Olympic Games	Road race	Not held	DNF	Not held			2	Not held			DNF	Not held				8	Not held		—
	Time trial		—				—				—					8			—
World Championships	Team time trial	Not held					—	—	—	2	—	—	—	Not held
	Road race	—	—	101	—	135	23	41	27	32	—	27	33	—	24	DNF		DNF
	Time trial	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	51	—	—	—	—	—	34	—	—
National Championships	Road race	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	—	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	33
	Time trial	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8

See also

In Spanish: Rigoberto Urán para niños