Being the Colombian champion, Miguel Angel Rubiano is an icon of Colombian cycling and in 2014 he was one of the most prominent riders at Team Columbia, riding strongly from January to October. The Colombian recently turned 30 years old and has a decade of European experience, especially in the Giro d’Italia.

Rubiano joined Colombia for the 2014 season after several years with Italian teams. Despite not taking a win on European soil, he is pleased with his first year at his new team.

“The balance is very positive because I did the job I was given by the team and also won the national championships,” he tells Ciclismo International. “It was great for me to wear the jersey in Europe, and only in the Giro d'Italia things went wrong. We must have patience because it's part of this business.”

Rubiano recently extended his contract with Colombia and is now looking forward to 2015.

“I am very happy with the renewal because I raced with my compatriots this year,” he says. “Now I know them and this makes me believe that 2015 will be much better. I want to be good at the Tour de San Luis, the national championships and the Giro d’Italia. Obviously, I like the late.season races and will go for those too.”

As a pro continental team, Colombia earned an invitation for the Giro d’Italia. Despite not taking a stage win, Rubiano believes that the team deserved its invitation.

“I agree that a continental team needs to prove its worth but this year I think we managed to do so,” he says. “Each riders has his own characteristics and does his best when he can. In the Giro, Fabio Duarte did well. Maybe he wasn’t so good in other races but he surely gave his best.

“For me, the best moment was the national championship, a dream, a very nice win.”

For next year Colombia have made several new signings.

“I know everyone,” Rubiano says. “Walter Pedraza and Alex Cano are very experienced. There will be some of my young countrymen. I know that the team will be good. I will be one of the veterans and I think we will do very well.”

Having been riding in Europe for many years, Rubiano knows about the travails for Colombians in cycling’s heartland. Ag2r manager Vincent Lavenu recently said that riders from the South African have it hard in Europe, referring to his own star rider Carlos Betancur.

“I think the many months in Europe don’t do anything good,” Rubiano says. “For Colombians, it would be nice to be able to go back for two months. You need to be with your own people and it’s much better in Colombia than in Europe.

“Ten years as a professional say much. I feel very confident, especially because I know my rivals and the tours, that's my forte. So I think I'm a man of reference for my colleagues.”

This year Rubiano led the Vuelta a Colombia for a week but he faded in the high mountains in the final part of the race.

“During the Tour, I was convinced that I could win,” he says. “I tried my best but I failed. I am happy because I lost after a great fight and am happy about that.”

While Rubiano came up short in his home stage race, he has always done well in the Italian one-day races.

“The secret is that I love this type of racing,” he says. “The one-day races, the climbs. They are my favorite events.”

This year the Colombian national championships will be held in February as the national federation wants more European stars to participate. Rubiano will use the Tour de San Luis to prepare for his title defence.

“The dates for the nationals were chosen at a meeting in Ponferreda where we made a deal for everyone involved. In San Luis, we are mostly in good shape so we will also be good at Natioanls and to keep that level.”