Uran hoping to make impression at 2011 Tour for Sky

British-based Team Sky's latest signing, Colombian Rigoberto Uran, is hoping to be in peak form next July to make an impression on the 2011 Tour de France for the squad.

"My main goals for next season are to develop further as a rider and be in perfect condition for the Tour de France," Uran said on www.teamsky.com.

"I have ridden all three of the Grand Tours before and I know I have to continue working hard to get to where I want to be."

"Finishing the Tour in 2009 is one of my biggest personal achievements and hopefully I will get the chance to do that again with Team Sky."

Uran was signed along with Spanish climbing domestique Xabier Zandio from the Caisse d'Epargne team in late September. The duo will strengthen Sky's presence in the mountains during the 2011 Tour, and week-long stage races such as the Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie. Uran will also contest other week-long stage races earlier in the season.

It is likely that both Uran and Zandio will support Sky's Tour hopeful Bradley Wiggins during mountain stages at the Tour. During this year's Tour, Wiggins struggled to find the form that netted him fourth place in the 2009 edition of the race, most notably losing time in the high mountains.

Team Sky's next outing will be at Paris-Bourges in France (Thursday October 7), then to the Giro dell'Emilia (October 9) and GP Beghelli (October 10) in Italy and Paris-Tours (October 10).

Related links

Team Sky signs Dowsett, Uran and Zandio