[ad_1]
EFE · Road Competition · 09/14/2020
Rigoberto Urn runs against the current. In a cycling obsessed by the data offered by the potentiometers installed on the bicycles, the Colombian faces the Tour de France without these devices, fending exclusively on his sensations.
To do this, he has his experience, carved out in 19 great laps, in which he has learned to know his body and analyze the race.
“The data that these computers offer you are important when you are getting ready, but once here, …”, answered during the second day of rest the head of Education First, third overall at 1.34 behind the leader, Slovenian Primoz Roglic.
A cyclist by race, Urrao prefers to watch the race and listen to his body, while saving a few grams on the bike.
“Because of the weight of the bike, I like to cut the watts, especially the third week of the Tour. At that time you don’t look at it so much, you go at the pace they take you. I’ve run sensations before. I only do it when I’m ready to go. to compete in the races, because I don’t need more information, I have a lot of data from the whole year and I try to go at my own pace, “he explained.
Veterans
The veteran of the contenders for the podium, along with the Australian Richie Porte, 35, knows that in a race as long as the Tour you have to live in the present and endure what the road throws at you.
Especially after less than a year ago, his future on the bike was compromised by a hard fall suffered in the Vuelta a Espaa that left him on the edge of the precipice.
“It was a very complicated year, but I really enjoy training and when you have that passion it is difficult to quit,” said the man from Antioqua, who has learned through successes and failures to relativize both.
“Of course I have pressure, nerves, but when I have experienced so many things, sport is not the priority. I try to do my best, but without affecting the results. That is why I am enjoying it,” he says.
“After so many years as a professional, one continues because of the passion and affection of my followers, I am very passionate about it. With passion it is easier,” he adds.
Urn enjoys cycling, forming training groups in Colombia, the racing environment.
Having overcome the aftermath of the fall, he feels happy again to compete with the best in the mountains and although he does not set any goals, he does not give up anything.
“In races of three weeks you have to be focused until the end, there are two tough mountain stages and an important time trial. We have to seize the opportunities,” he says.
TIME TRIAL
Urn recognizes that the final victory is difficult because of the might of Roglic and his team, the Jumbo, and the strength of his compatriot Tadej Pogacar. “But this does not end until Paris,” he warns.
Among those in the “top 10” he is the only one with his compatriot Nairo Quintana who has stepped on the podium in Paris. He was second in 2017 and that experience makes him know that enduring is the key to being among the best.
His third place is threatened above all by his compatriot Miguel ngel Lpez, fourth to 11 seconds, the British Adam Yates, to 29, Porte to 39 and the Spaniard Mikel Landa.
On paper, Urn has some advantage in next Saturday’s time trial on the slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles. But the Colombian knows that he cannot run thinking about the future.
“You can not save anything, you have to give everything every day. After 20 stages it will be a time trial of force. The times I have done on the Tour have gone well for me, but I do not reserve for it,” he says.
Before there are two tough mountain stages in the Alps that Urn must face without the support of Sergio Higuita, the Colombian champion, forced to abandon after one each this Sunday.
“It is a significant loss, the other teammates will have to work more, but we are prepared for it,” he assures.
EFE – EFE Agency – All rights reserved. All types of reproduction are prohibited without the written authorization of the EFE S / A Agency.
