Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) is convinced that will take another step in his career and achieve victory in both the Giro d'Italia and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after his second places in both events in past editions.

Uran spoke to the media in his country on Friday and confirmed that he faces "a very important year. I'm really psyched to try to win the Giro d'Italia and win the gold medal at the Games." The Colombian won silver in London 2012 behind Vinokourov. "I was very close." And he was second in the 2013 and 2014 Giri behind Nibali and Quintana, respectively.

After two seasons at Etixx-Quick Step, he will start a new life at Cannondale. "Everything has changed, my training and I'm also in a new team. It will not be easy, but I feel very well," he told El Tiempo TV.

Uran will start the season at the National Championships (February 4-7). It is an honor to be in a cycling region like Boyacá. I want to share the great enthusiasm with the Colombian fans who always watch us from afar." And he hopes to win "the title of national champion and being able to wear the jersey in Europe" after he won the time trial in 2015. He will then head to Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour de Romandie before the Giro.

In 2015, Uran won the Colombian time trial championships and the GP Québec, won silver in the team time trial at Worlds with Etixx-Quick Step, was third in Tirreno-Adriatico, fifth in the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie, seventh in Strade Bianche and tenth in the Clasica San Sebastian. In the Giro, he was sick at the start and could only manage 14th (after 3rd places in Sestriere and Cervinia) and he finished 42nd in the Tour after fighting for a stage victory (he was third in Pra Loup and fourth in Mende).