Fifth overall, best young rider and three times second places in the Giro d’Italia, third in the Fleche Wallonne, fourth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, seventh in the Vuelta al País Vasco and second in one stage. His spring was outstanding in his first year in the elite with Ag2r La Mondiale. And now, in the autumn season, Carlos Betancur wants to be competitive and finish on a high note.

The World Championship race in Florence, where he finished 35th, left him feeling good after he suffered and failed to live up to expectations in the Vuelta a España and Sunday he looks to do "a good job" in Lombardy, a race in which he finished ninth in his debut in 2011. After Il Lombardia, Betancur moves on to take part in the Tour of Beijing.

"When I finished the World Championship race, I was pretty tired because the race was made harder and more difficult by the rain. In fact, on Wednesday in Milan-Turin can say that I could still feel the Worlds in my legs. We did the right things in the Colombian national team, but we were unlucky and it was a shame Rigoberto [Uran] fell. Personally, I felt good until about ten kilometres to go. Those good feelings give me joy because they mean that I have regained some semblance of form after a second half of the season which has been very difficult," Betancur told Bicicicllismo.com prior to Sunday's race in Lombardy.

Il Lombardia is typically a race that tests the physical stamina and mental determination of the riders. Betancur looks forward to the challenges.

"I think I've rested and recovered,” he explained. “I hope to be in a good condition. I think I can do well. On Friday I did a recon on the last 90 kilometres and it is a very difficult parcours. Whoever as the legs, will win. The last climb is hard and I hope to have a good day," he announced.

Betancur has one wish before Sunday’s Monument: to avoid the rain showers that have haunted him and the rest of the peloton for most of 2013:

"We've been caught up in rain during almost all races from the Basque Country, in the Giro to the Worlds... but unfortunately there’s little we can do.”

The weather forecast predicts more rain on Sunday.

The Tour of Beijing (11-15 October) in China is next on Betancur’s race itinerary, and he wants to finish the season strongly.

“My condition is growing and I hope to do very well and to deliver a good result in the second part of the season. And to prove to myself that I can perform as in the spring.”

Looking farther ahead, Betancur said he is still undecided about which Grand Tour to ride next year.

"I will await the announcements of the routes before I make up my mind,” he said. “I would love to try the Tour. The Giro is a race that I love and where I can do well, but next year’s edition apparently includes a long time trial which is a disadvantage for me. We will choose one of the two, the Giro or the Tour," Betancur concluded without giving away any details.