What Latin Cyclists Could Surprise Us in the Tour de France?

This year the Tour de France will be a bit different. Without Egan Bernal, the 2019 winner, the Tour is shaping up to be a competition between Europeans, with the big favorites being the Slovenians Tadej Pogačar and Primoz Roglič. However, there is a share of Latino's on the Tour who could achieve a good result and even surprise with a victory this time around. The vast majority of them are Colombians with familiar names. Let's see who they are.

Richard Carapaz, Ineos Grenadiers, Ecuador

Carapaz is fourth in the world in individual rankings. If there is a Latino capable of taking victory in the Tour de France, it is him. The Ecuadorian enters this Tour after having conquered the Tour of Switzerland on June 13, 2021. As the outstanding climber of Ineos, he is expected to achieve at least one triumph in the mountain classification.

Miguel Ángel López, Movistar Team, Colombia

López enters the Tour as one of the most underrated riders in the world. This year he won the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, and was a fundamental piece for the Movistar team at the Critérium du Dauphiné. “We have great opportunities. The regularity in the three weeks is important, I think we can do it well. You have to have the strength and the courage that people send us. We will be fighting, ”López commented about it at a press conference.

Also read: Champions! Three unforgettable moments for Colombia in the Copa América

Nairo Quintana, Arkea Samsic, Colombia

After Egan, Nairo is possibly the most talented Colombian cyclist today. Although he has not had the season expected, he has had consistent results in Italy and France. He was ninth in the Tour de Var, 19 in the Laigueglia Trophy, and twelfth in the Tirreno-Adriatico. "He is a runner for the Tour," said Emmanuel Hubert, general manager of Arkea Samsic, about Quintana.

The Tour de France has been the constant ghost of Nairo's career. He has already managed to finish second twice (2013 and 2015) but he has never conquered this competition. Will you be able to add her to your chart this year?

Rigoberto Urán, EF Education, Colombia

Rigo is a record-breaker, an experienced Colombian who has already been runner-up of the Tour de France in 2017 and the Giro d'Italia twice: in 2013 and 2014. He recently won the individual time trial of the Tour de Switzerland and finished second in the general classification of that competition.

Considering his age, this could be one of the last times Urán will seriously compete for a Tour. Will it surprise us? If he won this time, it would be the most important achievement of his career.

“I think he surprised us all with his performance and even his own coach was trying to understand him, we didn't know where he stood in terms of form. It was more every day in Switzerland, it looks good for the Tour de France ”, said in an interview Jonathan Vaughters, general manager of his team.