Rigoberto Uran lined up alongside Chris Froome (Team Sky), Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) at the pre-race press conference of the star-studded Vuelta a Espana in Jerez de la Frontera on Friday. Thanks to his successful performances in last two editions of the Giro d’Italia, the Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader is regarded as one of the strongest podium contenders of the season’s final Grand Tour and 27-year old Colombian analyzed his own chances for accomplishing such goal.

Uran traditionally flew to Colombia following his Giro campaign, but returned to Europe on time to participate in his sole build-up event towards the Vuelta – Tour de l’Ain, where he performed accordingly to expectations.

The 27-year old Colombian is yet to prove his ability to put on consistent performances in two three-week events in one season, but claims that leadership role in the Belgian squad fills him with additional motivation and aims for a podium in Santiago de Compostela without regards to extremely stiff competition.

Before the Vuelta a Espana kicked off in Jerez yesterday, Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader revealed some details of his preparations towards season’s last Grand Tour event.

“I worked on my time trialing since there are three stages against the clock at the Vuelta, the 36-kilometers long one is very important and similar to the one I managed to win at the Giro [12 stage from Barbaresco to Barolo] – surely big time gaps are going to be created. I have also trained in the mountains, I did a little bit of everything,” Uran told at the Vuelta a Espana pre-race press conference.

Uran admitted that additional responsibility of leading a team in the three-week event motivates him but also weights a lit at the same time. He also expressed confidence in a squad built around him for the Spanish event.

“Actually it weighs a bit. Things get more serious along with bigger responsibility. Having a team like Omega, which is willing to sacrifice all their work in order to reach a final podium is important and gives additional motivation.”

“I never have confidence, it’s a sport in which you can never be certain. I never fully trust myself, these are very difficult races, crashes constantly happen… No confidence, but a great motivation as the team count on obtaining good results in this race.”

Asked about exceptionally strong field in this year’s Vuelta, Uran seemed unfazed in regards to his own objectives.

“There is Nairo [Quintana] and Purito again. Whe know nothing about the current form of Froome and Contador, but they’re favorites too. They are very experienced riders who know how to approach such races. There are six, seven contenders among which anyone could win the Vuelta,” Uran concluded.