When Rigoberto Uran signed for Omega Pharma-Quickstep from Team Sky in the winter, there were high hopes for the Colombian. Already proven as a phenomenal climber, and having shown following Sir Bradley Wiggins’ abandonment of the Giro he is a more than capable team leader, Uran is expected to lead the Belgian super team’s charge for Grand Tour honours this year. But he had not reckoned for the form of Michal Kwiatkowski. The Pole’s form at Tirreno-Adriatico saw Uran relegated to the role of support rider – the time he lost on the Guardiagrele putting paid to any hopes he had of contending for the blue jersey.

So the Volta a Catalunya, with an elite field of riders in opposition, was a big opportunity for the Colombian to prove his worth. He duly responded by staying safe in the bunch as Julian Alaphilippe contended for stage honours on days one and two, before finishing 12th on La Molina – losing a bit of time, but not enough to cause panic. However, any hopes he was harbouring of the green hooped jersey were obliterated on stage four. The Colombian lost touch with the leading group long before the action kicked off in the final kilometre, and he eventually crossed nearly four minutes after van Garderen. It is a big missed opportunity for Uran.