Rigoberto Urán crosses the finish line of stage 12 of the 110th Tour de France, July 13, 2023, in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, France.
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Rigoberto Urán crosses the finish line of stage 12 of the 110th Tour de France, July 13, 2023, in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, France.
Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
GIRARDOT, Colombia — The crowd roared when Rigoberto Urán took the stage last month at Latin America’s biggest amateur cycling event. The Colombian cyclist universally known as “Rigo” began his eponymous race, the Giro de Rigo, in 2018. It now attracts hordes of cyclists from around the world.
In fact, there were so many riders in this year’s Giro de Rigo – more than 5,000 – that once the race began near the town of Girardot in central Colombia, it took about 30 minutes to complete. all cyclists to exit the starting gate.
In this cycling-mad country, Urán is both a superstar athlete and a celebrity. Besides his Giro de Rigo, he sells his own brand of cycling equipment, called Go Rigo Go! and operates Rigo-themed restaurants. He is a constant presence on television, endorsing everything from mattresses to cell phones.
In October, Colombian television began broadcasting a telenovela – also called “Rigo” – about his life story from rags to riches. (It is now streaming on Amazon Prime).
“Everyone loves Rigo,” says César Betancur, screenwriter of the series. “His celebrity transcends sport.”
Ironically, Urán achieved all his success even though he never won the biggest cycling races.
Other Colombian cyclists, such as Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana and Luis Herrera, have triumphed at the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, grueling three-week races considered the toughest in the world. Urán, on the other hand, won stages in these races – but never an overall victory. In the 2012 London Olympics road race, he was in the lead but faded at the last minute, finishing with the silver medal.
Fans applaud Urán as he takes the stage at his annual Giro de Rigo cycling event in November.
John Otis pour NPR
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John Otis pour NPR
Fans applaud Urán as he takes the stage at his annual Giro de Rigo cycling event in November.
John Otis pour NPR
In an interview with NPR during its Go Rigo Go! office in the Colombian city of Medellín, Urán says his near misses are part of his calling.
“I think a lot of people identify with me because they want to win,” he says, “but can’t really do it.”
Whether he wins or loses on the bike, Urán relishes the experience: marveling at the European countryside, joking with the riders in the peloton and serving up humorous anecdotes to journalists.
“Most athletes are stressed and don’t enjoy anything,” says Urán. “But participating in the Tour de France is very special. People see me on the Tour and I smile.”
Urán also stands out because, in an era of scripted, risk-averse sports celebrities, he sings and dances, constantly makes fun of himself, treats his fans like family by calling them “my sons and my daughters”, uses generously Colombian slang. and often lets loose with foul language. We are far from Tom Brady, Michael Jordan or Roger Federer, all masters of milquetoast in front of the microphone.
For example, during a 2014 appearance on a Colombian talk show, Urán annoyed the host by describing how, during long races, cyclists relieve themselves of their bikes – by peeing while pedaling at 40 km/h .
“Do you know how hard it is?” » he asked amid laughter from the audience.
During a team trip to China, he delighted the audience by bursting his salsa dance moves.
“His spontaneity carries you away with him,” explains Matt Rendell, a British journalist and author of several books on Colombian cycling. “He is irreverent. He swears but in a bit of a country way. He pushes the limits.”
Uran in his Go Rigo Go! office in Medellín. Come on Rigo, come on! is a chain of stores selling cycling equipment, one of several businesses Urán started as he nears retirement and transitions from professional cyclist to entrepreneur.
John Otis pour NPR
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John Otis pour NPR
Uran in his Go Rigo Go! office in Medellín. Come on Rigo, come on! is a chain of stores selling cycling equipment, one of several businesses Urán started as he nears retirement and transitions from professional cyclist to entrepreneur.
John Otis pour NPR
Andrés Colorado, a university professor in Medellín who lectures on Uran’s transition from cycling to business in his sports management class, says that just as young American basketball players want to “be like Mike” – Michael Jordan – the Cyclists identify with Rigo’s optimistic personality. .
“Rigo is the life of the party,” Colorado says.
Uran’s lust for life helped him get through a difficult childhood.
He grew up in the Andean town of Urrao where, at the height of Colombia’s guerrilla war, his father was killed by armed paramilitaries who often targeted civilians suspected of collaborating with the rebels.
Following his father’s murder, “a veil of mourning took over the whole town,” says Rendell. “And Rigo, somehow, came out of it. And that must be some kind of genius.”
At age 14, Urán became his family’s breadwinner, selling lottery tickets, recycling waste, and collecting money from passengers on a local bus line. His father had encouraged him to take up cycling and he soon began winning prize money in local races. Eventually, he moved to Europe to ride for some of the top professional teams, including his current team, EF Education-EasyPost.
He finished second in the Giro d’Italia twice, in 2013 and 2014. In his athletic finest hour, he finished second in the 2017 Tour de France, behind four-time Tour winner Chris Froome.
“He is the best leadership figure as a driver that I have ever worked with,” Uran team manager Jonathan Vaughters told ESPN at the time. “Rigo is a leader who sets an example. He never shows up to a race, even one kilo overweight. He always devotes himself 100% to his training, to his diet, to his concentration.”
Now 36 and in the twilight of his sporting career, Urán plans to retire from competitive cycling after next year’s grand tours and the Olympics to focus on his many business ventures. Its annual Giro de Rigo allows thousands of riders to rub shoulders with their hero and promotes the next generation of cyclists.
The bicycle parking area of the Giro de Rigo, an annual cycling event organized by Urán, which this year attracted more than 5,000 cyclists from 19 different countries. It is the largest amateur cycling event in Latin America.
John Otis pour NPR
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The bicycle parking area of the Giro de Rigo, an annual cycling event organized by Urán, which this year attracted more than 5,000 cyclists from 19 different countries. It is the largest amateur cycling event in Latin America.
John Otis pour NPR
At this year’s Giro de Rigo, held in November near Girardot, Urán was the last rider to start the race. Although he wasn’t aiming for victory, Urán passed almost all the other riders, who let out cheers when they spotted him.
Among them was John Díaz, a Colombian doctor wearing a blue Giro de Rigo jersey.
“If you ask anyone in Colombia who the most popular cyclist is,” he says, “it’s Rigo.”
2023-12-30 21:52:52
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