With the withdrawal of Bradley Wiggins from the Giro d’Italia on medical grounds, the mantle of team leader at Sky has been passed on to Colombian rider Rigoberto Urán.

Urán currently sits 2 minutes adrift race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and the Colombian knows he will have his work cut out for him if he is to seriously challenge the Sicilian.

“Evidently the team tactics have changed due to the enforced withdrawal of Wiggins, but the pink jersey still remains our objective,” Urán told Rai Sport after Friday’s stage 13 from Busseto to Cherasco. “I feel fine at this point in the race and starting tomorrow the mountain stages loom and I’m ready to negotiate them. Regaining almost two minutes on riders such as Nibali and Evans won’t be easy, but it’s still a long way to go.”

Urán lost nearly a minute and a half on a previous stage when the team management ordered him (and teammate Henao) back from the leading group to assist a struggling Wiggins.