For a while last weekend it felt not only like there was still a race, but like we had gone back in time. In a large group there were at the same time Rigoberto Urán, Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Arau, Egan Bernal, Valerio Agnoli, Nairo Quintana…It was El Giro de Rigo, the traditional granfondo organized by Uran which is now increasingly a day of celebration.
Aru himself, strongly desired by Uran, tells us how it went. In Barranquilla, in his Colombia, Rigoberto gathers thousands of fans from all over the country every year, but also from many nations near and far.
The Greatness of Uran
Before going into detail with Aru, you need to know that Uran is a real star in his country, despite having won less than people like Bernal or Quintana. He is very popular on social media, He owns a specialized tour operator, a restaurant chain, and enjoys enormous respect among his colleagues, or rather former colleagues. In all these years of interviews, there hasn't been a single one who hasn't expressed words of esteem for him. The most recent one was Gianluca Brambilla.
"I can confirm that's true," Aru said. "Even though I've never raced with Rigo, we have a great relationship. In 2020, I spent a few days in Colombia, near his hometown of Medellín: we trained together and remained friends. He was always respected and well-liked in the group."
This is how on a sunny morning in Barranquilla, a Colombian town in the Atlantic district overlooking the Caribbean Sea, 8.000 cyclists gathered to tackle two routes: one 165 kilometers long and one 72 kilometers long.
"It was a truly wonderful event," Aru said. "Rigoberto is incredibly popular and a star in Colombia, with a huge following. Not to mention the organization: perfect. Lots of dedicated spaces after arrival, ad hoc services… Agnoli also did massages! There were cyclists from Venezuela, Argentina, and Ecuador, and Rigo deserves all this goodwill. Besides, a day like this is excellent publicity for cycling. And the fact that so many champions showed up says it all."
Champions among the people
It was a two-day celebration. From Italy, Agnoli, Nibali, and Aru all flew together. The welcome at the airport was already super warm, with photos, fans, and their host waiting for them. They arrived on Friday, took a tour of the city, including by boat, and On Saturday they went with Uran to the race village for activities related to the event. Then, on Sunday morning, they jumped into the fray.
«We completed the 165-kilometer route – continues Aru – we took a nice photo in front of the large group and then we pedaled with the people. The goal was precisely to be among the fans. In the end, the elevation gain was 1.500-1.600 meters, so it wasn't impossible. I rode with Vincenzo, Rigoberto, and Henao, while Bernal and Quintana were ahead. We stopped at the refreshment points, took photos, and in addition to the salts and energy bars, I also ate the typical potato, a kind of boiled potatoes!.
«We had a lot of fun, both during and after the race. Nibali and Quintana went up on stage and started singing, others danced. I tried, but I'm a really bad dancer!
The podium of the 2014 Giro
Aru emphasizes the great warmth that Barranquilla and Colombia as a whole have reserved for Uran. This event was born in 2018 and has grown every year, becoming a real must. It is also said that Uran wants to "export" his races all over the world: he certainly has no shortage of sponsors and friends.
As Aru recalls, even though it was a race, just like our granfondo, some people pushed, but most were there to enjoy the day.
The occasion was also a chance to share anecdotes. "In the end," Aru recalls, " the podium was present Tour of Italy 2014: Quintana came first, Uran second, and me third. It was a great match, and we remembered it."
By the way, one thing that Italian fans really like is that, despite the Tour and ReturnUran wanted to call his granfondo “Giro”, like the Giro d’Italia, to underline the deep bond with our country and our race.
«But perhaps the thing that struck me most – adds Aru – It was the nickname the Colombians gave me: the man of the thousand faces, the man with a thousand faces, for my expressions when I was pedaling. A bit like Julian Alaphilippe. I explained to him that I was like that because I was working really hard and often gave more than I had. Apart from that, we didn't talk much about cycling, but we really had fun and relaxed."
