More than slightly overweight and without a clear views on his future in professional cycling, Carlos Betancur have returned to competition in Spain after he infamously didn’t make it back from Colombia on time to participate in his season-s biggest objective-to-be – the Tour de France. Despite a lot of controversies surrounding the enigmatic Ag2r La Mondiale rider, he declares his constant affection for bike racing and motivation to build proper disposition for upcoming World Championships while sitting fifth last in the Vuelta a Espana general classification.

Betancur achieved his career’s greatest result by winning the Paris- Nice in March, but rest of his spring campaign was hampered by knee injury and gradually decreasing motivation before he disappeared in Colombia. Ag2r La Mondiale several times reported difficulties in contacting the 24-year old rider and it became clear he won’t participate in the Tour de France after he didn’t return to Europe on time to follow his build-up programme.

The 24-year old Colombian eventually make it back to appear at the Vuelta a Espana and preceding Vuelta a Burgos, but before it happened the French squad had announced that both parties agreed to release Betancur from existing contract by the end of 2014 season.

“Burgos helped me regaining racing rhythm and I think things are going well. I didn’t show increasing condition immediately but now I’m on the right track. I gain weight easily but also lose additional kilos quickly, so I expect myself to be ready for the World Championships and a rest of the season.”

“I don’t care much about a result obtained in Burgos, for example, because it was treated exclusively as preparations. I got used to finish first as well as riding at the rear end. The most important thing is to adore the bike and the discipline. I’m doing this because I love bike racing, either at the front or rear and,” Betancur told Biciciclismo.

The Paris-Nice winner, visibly overweight and lacking condition, currently sits fifth last in the general classification of the Spanish Grand Tour and claims that he intends to use the race as a build-up towards the World Championships – his ultimate objective of the year, where he expects himself to be competitive enough.

“I came to the Vuelta in order to prepare myself for the World Championships. I will try to survive first two weeks and enjoy it. I expect it to be a very open race with many chances for successful breakaways as favorites are going to watch themselves very closely,” Betancur explained.

Despite his carefree kind of optimism, Betancur is yet to find a team for the 2015 season and even though he is one of the most impressive bike riders of his generations, obvious lack of discipline will surely affect eventual contract negotiations.

“I want to do very well at the World Championships. I don’t know the course but I was told that it suits me pretty well. In a month after the Vuelta a Espana I expect myself to arrive perfectly prepared for Worlds. I’ve always said that winning the Giro, Tour or Vuelta would mean a lot to me, but World Championships remain an ultimate goal,” Betancur concluded.

Betancur is expected to ride the Italian classics and the Tour of Beijing as his final events of the 2014 season. He is still yet to find a team for upcoming year, but Omega Pharma – Quick Step reportedly expressed interest in signing the young Colombian.