Rigoberto Uran of Omega Pharma-Quick Step has begun a march towards his first major goal of the season, the Giro d’Italia. The 27-year old Colombian rider has so far proved that signing him as a Belgian team’s leader for mountainous stage races was a wise move by Patrick Lefevere, as he noted solid performances in Challenge Mallorca followed by a podium finish in the Tour of Oman, where he arguably was the most aggressive rider on the ascents.

Now Uran hopes to continue in that line up to his first serious test as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader coming with the Giro d’Italia in May, yet in the interview for Biciciclismo the runner-up in the Italian grand tour reveals that improving on last year’s result won’t be his only major goal this season, as he aims to be a part of the Belgian team’s roster at the Tour the France 101st edition.

The 27-year old Colombian climber claims that even though he closely missed few opportunities to claim an early victory underlining his status as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step captain and he hoped for even better final result in the Tour of Oman, strong performances in his first races of 2014 are reassuring and give him confidence boost for the forthcoming races.

“Oman went really well for a first stage race. And in Mallorca we took the first heaters as everything was going very fast and at the high level from the very beginning.”

“I have worked well over the winter in Colombia and it was important to start well both for the team and for me personally. It gives me peace for the forthcoming races and the confidence is there to continue working in the same line,” Uran confirmed in the interview for Biciciclismo.

After completing his first three races in the Omega Pharma-Quick Step outfit Colombian climber claims to feel perfectly comfortable in his new team. Even though his present and former squads are known for following slightly different approaches to bike racing, with the first being characterized as more laid back working environment, Uran claims he didn’t notice significant differences as he has an ability to adapt well.

“Probably there are some differences, though perhaps I haven’t notice them because I adapt very well. I like what I’ve seen so far.”

“In Oman I rode with Boonen and classic squad and in Mallorca with another group, I’m very satisfied with well-acquainted with team-mates, staff and trainers. I worked a little more with the time trial bike which I was forced to change after seven or eight years with Pinarello.”

Obviously, Uran also commented on the differences regarding roles he had to play in Team Sky and Omega Pharma-Quick Step, what was one of decisive factors to make a move from the British to Belgian World Tour team.

“It’s a next step in my career and it’s not easy. It’s a major commitment as I have a team that supports me and I’m supposed to finish off their work, I have to be even more professional.”

And he continues: “You always have to be, but such commitment forces you to withstand a little more: if it rains you’ll get wet. The responsibility is ultimately much higher. When the team signs a rider at this level, they expect him to win.”

After an extremely strong showing from Omega Pharma-Quick Step riders early in the season, with overall victories in Qatar and Algarve courtesy of Niki Terpstra and Michał Kwiatkowski respectively and stages won by Boonen, Kwiatkowski, Terpstra, Meersman and Cavendish on the way, Uran is very optimistic about reaching their goals in the forthcoming races.

Colombian climber points out especially to Tirreno-Adriatico, as a diverse course and team time trial will provide the Belgian team with various opportunities to shine. Uran also shares interesting remarks on performances of the main grand tour contenders in first races of the season, claiming that every year top riders are forced to start from a higher level.

“The team is very good, especially Michał [Kwiatkowski] as it was proved in Algarve. He can do very well in Tirreno as there are both individual and team time trials. I don’t like marking particular targets in advance, but the idea is to win or at least to make a good race,” Uran revealed early goals for 2014 season.

“I observe that every year riders get more prepared, this is a standard in bike racing. Cyclist work hard throughout the winter-break. I, for example, was at the training camp with the team in Spain in December and then I travelled to California to a wind tunnel.”

Not being the second strongest climber in the last Giro d’Italia edition, neither the appointed leader of the Team Sky for that race, Uran still managed to finish runner up behind the never seriously threatened Vincenzo Nibali. Even though he acknowledges it will be a difficult task to improve on this result considering an extremely stiff competition, with the likes of Joaquim Rodriguez, Nairo Quintana or Riche Porte targeting the Italian grand tour this season, the Colombian still hopes for the podium spot.

“The team slightly changed their philosophy, now they expect to achieve podium results in grand tour races and my first goal is make it to the podium in the Giro. I’m working to achieve that.”

“I don’t like to set certain goals, but let’s make it clear. When you work throughout the whole winter you need some goal and in my case I was preparing to Giro d’Italia. I want to ride there well, to be on the podium again. I believe and hope to ride myself into a good disposition, then everything depends on how the race develops, the weather, Giro is very specific…,” Uran confirmed his aspirations for Biciciclismo.

While asked about improving on his Giro d’Italia runner-up spot, Uran continues reflecting on the various circumstances connected with characteristics of the Italian grand tour race, as well as on the stiff competition he will be forced to face during his march to the podium.

“I am mentally prepared for whatever comes, it is important to know what you can achieve. Then there are also legs and other circumstances. I think I will have a good team around me, more or less the same as it was in Mallorca, good experienced riders capable of performing well in the mountains.”

“Nairo [Quintana], Evans, Purito [Joaquim Rodriguez] ... There is always high level and riders in a good shape. And it is not an easy race, definitely it is not.”

“Consistency is very important in three week races and in my case it was something I had to build over the years. Before I was peaking very quickly but losing this form veryfast too. Now it costs me more and I have to train more, but I’m able to carry good disposition much longer and that’s very important. It’s a key to the three-week racing, although I might have lost some of my explosiveness on the way.”

The racing calendar of the Colombian is well defined, and as it was recently reported he doesn’t rule out his participation in the Tour the France this year.

“Strade Bianche, Tirreno, Catalunya, Romandie and Giro,” Uran enumerates.

“And the Tour the France is not ruled out, I can possibly ride the Giro and the Tour. It’s something we already discussed. Ardennes classics will be skipped this year, though.”