Rigoberto Uran was the surprise package in 2013. Though his climbing ability was undoubted, the way he eased into the leadership role at Team Sky when Sir Bradley Wiggins abandoned through injury showed he has the ability to compete for Grand Tour honours. Given the chance to do just that with Omega Pharma-Quickstep this year, he has not let his new employers down. Uran’s phenomenal time trial win, where he obliterated his rivals, made him the first Colombian ever to pull on the maglia rosa.

His spell in the pink jersey was ended by Nairo Quintana’s climbing masterclass on Val Martello, but Uran still sits in second place and with at least a second consecutive Giro podium place in his hands. His attacking on stage 18, with Wout Poels for support, showed he will not be giving up his hopes of an overall win without a hell of a fight either and the mountain time trial and summit finish on Monte Zoncolan will give him more opportunity to showcase his supreme talent.