Rigoberto Uran seemed highly motivated to kick off his first season as Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s grand tour hope with a bang as he performed strongly in Tour of Oman in January, however, his following appearances in Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Volta a Catalunya weren’t half that convincing. The Giro d’Italia runner-up from last year admitted there is always a desire to shine in every single event, but below-par performances do not worry him too much as long as he manages to keep his season’s major target – the Italian grand tour, in sight.

Uran entered the 2014 season with promising showings in Challenge Mallorca and mountainous Tour of Oman where he appeared to be one of the strongest – and certainly most aggressive – climbers, while his slightly disappointing results posted in Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico seemed irrelevant while the 27-year old Colombian rode in a supporting capacity of Michał Kwiatkowski.

However, the form showed by the Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader in Volta a Catalunya last week confirmed a negative tendency, as Uran wasn’t able to stay with the favorites on the not entirely demanding Catalan climbs.

“[I] always worked seriously, but lacked a kick. I expected to be better. I have had difficult days at the Volta [a Catalunya].”

“Obviously I lacked a kick to stay with the best. I didn’t have legs. Fail, fail..,” Uran told Biciciclismo.

Still, despite only 27 years of age, the Colombian climber can be arguably considered a veteran with having completed full nine seasons of racing in Europe and eight grand tour appearances under his belt. Thus, despite his latest failures Uran stays calm regarding his preparations for his season’s main objective, the Giro d’Italia, as long as everything goes according to the plan.

“For now, I stay calm. One would care, but there are other objectives I’m preparing myself for,” Uran emphasized.

“You always want to be a protagonist, but it remains clear that there is other goal towards which I am working and from the beginning it was Giro d’Italia.”

Even though Uran has everything what it takes to excel in Ardennes classics, his absence in the Amstel, Fleche Wallonne and Liege additionally underlines Colombian’s dedication to his season’s greatest objective.

Tour de Romandie is planned to be the Colombian’s next and final build-up event ahead of the Giro, as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider takes an almost month-long break from competition to undergo a training in South America.

“A training camp I suppose, most likely in Colombia exactly like last year. I will skip Ardennes classics to put all bets on the Giro,” Uran outlined his final preparations ahead of the Italian Grand Tour.

The Colombian acknowledges that considering this years star-studded line-up for the Italian grand tour it would be extremely difficult to improve on his last year’s result. Still, Uran believes that with a support of a strong Omega Pharma-Quick Step team a podium spot is not beyond his reach.

“The level will be very high, I have seen it in the Volta and in the Giro it’s going to be the same. The team will be more or less the same as in Catalunya. A very good block, a team to perform well in the Giro.”

Uran also confirmed that he has already inspected some of the Giro d’Italia 2014 stages with a special attention paid to the time trials.

“I’ve seen some stages, like the time trial, and I’m going to inspect other in advance. The truth is that as it’s a team which pays a big attention to time trialing, we’re working accordingly and we’re receiving w great support from Specialized what is equally important,” Uran concluded.