Rigoberto Uran can't rely on 'Colombian support' at the Giro d'Italia

Rigoberto Uran, stage winner, Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 10

Rigoberto Urán must count on his Sky team-mates to win the Giro d'Italia, not his compatriots, according to Team Colombia General Manager Claudio Corti.

"We've got different sponsors, and I've got to honour my sponsors," Corti told Cycling Weekly. "We can't have our riders being domestiques for Urán. I'd be happy to see Urán win the Giro, but 99 per cent of it he has to do, one per cent may come from friendship."

Corti reacted to a comment from Colombian cycling legend, Fabio Parra. In the 1980s, Parra won two Tour de France stages and placed third overall. On Monday, he called on the 12 Colombians in the Giro d'Italia to unite behind Urán.

Urán sits third overall, 2-46 minutes behind leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is second overall at 1-26.

He won the white jersey of best young rider and placed seventh overall last year. This year, he was drafted to help Bradley Wiggins. He won the summit finish stage to Altopiano del Montasio and, after Wiggins abandoned, became Sky's overall leader.

Colombian Sergio Henao and Sky's other riders will help Urán. Team Colombia, Corti explained, will work to win one of the high mountain stages. If the chance arrives, he added, his riders, like John Atapuma or Fabio Duarte, could cooperate for a common goal.

"You can help to save a rider who's hurting, but to it's difficult to think that one of mine can drop Evans, Nibali and everyone else to deliver Urán," he said. "If it happens that way, it wouldn't be that my rider is helping Urán, it'd be that he's going strongly and so is Urán, and they find themselves together. To win, though, it's up to Urán."

Urán agreed.

"In Sky, there's Henao, but all the other [Colombians] race in other teams and I don't know if you can theorise about alliances," he said on Monday. "Plus, you've got to keep your feet on the ground because up until now, Nibali has been better."

Signing big names

Corti's Team Colombia riders would work for Urán or Henao if they were in the team. It could happen as the second division team is considering working with a private sponsor to bring in more funding for 2014 or 2015.

"My budget wouldn't let me sign these types of riders, but to support younger riders to reach their best. However, we have an idea of bringing in a private sponsor or two, probably a Colombian one, to expand the budget," Corti added.

"With a bigger budget we can do both, help young cyclists and also have proven cyclists that can immediately give the team results. We already have Leonardo Duque, who's raced in stage races. He can give extra advice on top of what the sports directors are giving during the races. This helps accelerate their learning process."

Giro d'Italia 2013: Previews and race info

Giro d'Italia 2013: Coverage index

Giro d'Italia 2013: British TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2013: 10 things you need to know

Giro d'Italia 2013: The Big Preview

Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage reports

Stage 16: Intxausti continues Movistar's successful Giro with stage win

Stage 15: Visconti wins Galibier stage

Stage 14: Santambrogio wins and Nibali strengthens lead

Stage 13: Cavendish takes his fourth stage win of 2013 Giro

Stage 12: Cavendish takes 100th win as Wiggins' Giro bid faltrs

Stage 11: Navardauskas wins as favourites enjoy day off

Stage 10: Uran wins as Wiggins and Hesjedal lose time

Stage nine: Belkov takes solo win as Wiggins put under pressure

Stage eight: Dowsett wins as Nibali takes race lead

Stage seven: Wiggins crashes as Hansen wins

Stage six: Cavendish wins stage six of Giro

Stage five: Degenkolb avoids crash to take win

Stage four: Battaglin sprints to first Giro stage winStage three: Paolini takes charge

Stage two: Sky wins team time trial

Stage one: Cavendish wins opener

Giro d'Italia 2013: Photo galleries

Photos by Graham Watson

Stage 16 gallery

Stage 15 gallery

Stage 14 gallery

Stage 13 gallery

Stage 12 gallery

Stage 11 gallery

Stage 10 gallery

Stage nine gallery

Stage eight gallery

Stage seven gallery

Stage six gallery

Stage five gallery

Stage four gallery

Stage three gallery

Stage two gallery

Stage one gallery

Team presentation gallery

Giro d'Italia 2013: Videos

Giro final week preview

Giro week two preview

Giro first week video preview

Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest/538048/giro-d-italia-2013-coverage-index.html#vdVa8XdAkAWsJOVs.99

 

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