Two Colombian riders face the dispute for the yellow jersey with the goal between eyebrows to get the victory that will lead them to become the first Latin American to win the most important cycling fair

There are some athletes who spend their lives flirting with glory, who insist with zeal for their goals but always end up giving up for very little. Surely, the Colombian cyclist Rigoberto Urán, is one of those most emblematic cases of caressing the top of the podium and not being able to. However, for the Tour de France this year, everything looks different. He is one of the favorites along with his compatriot Nairo Quintana and the recent winner of the Giro d'Italia 2018, the British Chris Froome.

Leer en español: Tour de Francia 2018: dos latinoamericanos entre los favoritos para llevarse el título

Let's start with the native of Urrao, Antioquia. Urán has the main results of his record: two runners-up in the Tour of Italy (2013-2014), a silver medal in the Olympic Games (London 2012), and a runner-up in the last Tour de France 2017. Interestingly, it has always been to be without that soft sweetness in the mouth that leaves the supremacy, condition that for this year, and due to some factors that we are going to detail, the panorama could be giving a turn in his favor.

Self-confidence

The confidence that the Antioquian cyclist can have for this version of the Tour will be key in order to consolidate his triumph, because although it is already known that the Colombian has always had faith in himself and in his conditions, the fact that he In the last edition, he realized that the final victory was within his reach, it will give him a comfort edge about how to take on the competition.

So, for now, it is expected to arrive on July 7, start the second big of the year, Rigo may end up exhibiting his best version, and why not, donning the beautiful as coveted yellow jersey.

Leadership within your team

Interestingly, the coffee broker during the 2017 season, and more specifically in the dispute for the yellow jersey of the Tour de France, did not have the leadership granted within the EF Education First-Drapac. During some days he had to dispute that rank with some of his teammates, a fact that led him to be absent of gregarious at important moments of the Gallic race. However, for this edition things are going to change, the leadership within their payroll is already guaranteed, and with all the loads pulling for the same side the objectives of Rigo could be much closer.

Quintana, another favorite: will his internal fight with Mike Landa?

They have advanced five months of the season and still do not know who is the leader of the Movistar Team. The only thing that is known and recently confirmed by the Spanish cast is that the Colombian Nairo Quitana, as well as the Iberians Alejando Valverde and Mikel Landa, will be part of the roster to run the Tour de France. Quintana, the traditional card of recent years for the French 'Grande' which has been close to winning but has never won, could be affected by this team strategy.

Strangely, Movistar left the Giro d'Italia without a leader and ended up lining up his three luxury climbers for this French gala. Although at first glance it seems like a great strategy, since obviously they will have total strength in the mountains, confusion still reigns before the fact of not having defined the name of the manager to fight for the individual general classification.

We already know that Nairo, Valverde and Landa will want to win the competition because the three have the profile and have left it for granted in each of their interviews, a situation that in addition to opening a gap of internal discussion among other brokers, could favor the intentions of victory of other aspirants to the crown, like Urán.

The title defender, worn out?

For the first time in the last five years, we will see a Chris Froome arrive very differently from the Tour. Well, although it is true that he will face the competition being the current three-time champion of the event, with all the experience that represents, it is also true that he will go unprecedentedly to the race with the wear and tear on his legs that allowed him to run a Giro d'Italia with more than 3000 kilometers and all the efforts that entails.

This condition of tiredness of Froome is another aspect that looks favorable for Rigo, who will come to the race with fresh body and only the load generated in the preparation of this dispute. But with the Briton, who is still waiting for the 'punishment' of the TAS, you never know, you should never forget it in three-week competitions. What he did a few weeks ago in the Giro is a demonstration that we will remember for years.

Latin American Post | Freddy González

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