Uran steps up

The life of the Sky domestique is one that demands metronomic precision. The foundations for many of the British team’s greatest stage race victories have been laid by the setting of a pace high enough to discourage any attack and to swiftly haul back any able to jump clear. Rigoberto Uran excelled in this school, but when required to carry Sky’s hopes, notably at last year’s Giro d’Italia, seemed to lack the confidence to impose his will on the race. Not so this year, it seems.

Uran will carry the hopes of Omega Pharma-Quickstep at this year’s Giro, and while the Belgian super team is unlikely ever to assume the mantle of Grand Tour specialists in the manner of his former employers, Uran will be the man expected to make the difference when the GC contenders drop the hammer. He made a fine start to his new career on stage four of the Tour of Oman, successfully pursuing former team-mate Froome and finally dropping Nibali on the run to the finish line.