Colombian · Urrao, Colombia · Born 26 January 1987Rigoberto Urán is a Colombian former road cyclist and one of the country's most beloved sportsmen, who became the first Colombian to reach the podium of the Giro d'Italia and won an Olympic silver medal.
Rigoberto Urán finished runner-up at the 2017 Tour de France, reached the Giro d'Italia podium in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014, and claimed Olympic silver in London in 2012, a career built against the backdrop of personal tragedy — his father killed by paramilitaries when Urán was a teenager — that made him one of Colombian cycling's most admired figures. He was introduced to the sport by his father, who was tragically killed by paramilitaries when Urán was still a teenager, forcing him to help support his family by selling lottery tickets before moving to Medellín at 16 to pursue cycling professionally. Urán turned professional with the Italian Tenax team in 2006, and joined Team Sky in 2011, delivering a breakthrough season in 2012 that included the young rider's jersey at the Giro d'Italia and a silver medal in the road race at the London Olympics, narrowly missing gold. The following year, he became the first Colombian ever to reach the podium of the Giro d'Italia, finishing second behind Vincenzo Nibali after taking over team leadership from an abandoning Bradley Wiggins, and repeated the runner-up finish in 2014 while riding for Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Urán's finest Grand Tour performance came at the 2017 Tour de France with Cannondale-Drapac, where he finished runner-up to Chris Froome, winning Stage 9 in a photo-finish despite a crash that damaged his bike. He completed stage wins across all three Grand Tours, adding a Vuelta a España stage in 2022, and remained one of Colombian cycling's most popular figures throughout his 19-year career, celebrated as much for his humour and relatability as his results, despite never winning a Grand Tour outright. He retired in 2024.
Becoming the first Colombian to reach the Giro d'Italia podium and finishing runner-up at the 2017 Tour de France
How They Played
Versatile climber and time trialist with strong all-around Grand Tour ability
Lasting Impact
One of Colombia's most beloved cyclists, celebrated for consistency and personality across a 19-year career despite narrowly missing Grand Tour victory
Career Honours
- Olympic silver, road race (2012)
- 2x Giro d'Italia runner-up (2013, 2014), first Colombian podium
- Tour de France runner-up (2017)
- First Colombian to wear the Giro d'Italia pink jersey
- Stage wins across all three Grand Tours
Colombian Athletes