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Tour de France 2014: King of the Mountains contenders

RCUK looks at the men who could challenge for the polka dot jersey

The Giro d’Italia belonged to the Colombians – Nairo Quintana winning overall, Rigoberto Uran finishing second and Julian Arredondo taking the King of the Mountains.

There will be much fewer Colombians on the Tour startlist, but Darwin Atapuma is one rider perfectly capable of carrying on what has been a fine year for his countrymen.

His climbing ability came to the fore at last year’s Giro d’Italia and Tour of Poland and was enough to convince BMC Racing to snap up the 26-year-old – who responded by immediately finishing ninth at the season-opening Tour de San Luis.

Darwin Atapuma proved his climbing ability last season, but could be hamstrung by commitments to Tejay van Garderen (pic: Sirotti)

Since then, however, Atapuma has enjoyed a steady but unspectacular season – proving his worth to the team as a super strong climbing domestique while earning two top 20 finishes along the way too.

His role at the Tour will be support team-mate Tejay van Garderen on the brutal gradients, but as a potential plan B he is certainly capable. If he is afforded the freedom to attack, do not count against him challenging for the King of the Mountains.

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