After a disappointing Giro d'Italia (14th overall one year after he finished second to Nairo Quintana), Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quick Step) lies in sixth position ahead of the mountain stages.

“The truth is that everything has gone better than I expected so far”, said the Colombian climber before the first Pyrenean stage. “The team and myself have had a fantastic first week except for Tony Martin's accident.

"My feelings are great. Everything that will come now will be a bonus. I feel much better than at the Giro where I was sick. If I'm well in the Pyrenees, I can fight with the best.

"This is a difficult race, there the four great, then Purito, Valverde and the Frenchmen. Anything can happen, even the least that you can imagine. I trust my consistency. I want to follow my dream to contest a great Tour de France."