Rigoberto Uran is one of the most popular cyclists in Colombia and it’s not because of his accolades! While most sports athletes attain their celebrity status after becoming overly successful, the story is entirely different for Uran. This 36-year-old cyclist has a comparatively less attractive CV to show than his counterparts like Luis Herrera, Nairo Quintana, and Egan Bernal. All three cyclists have won at least one of the following three tournaments- Vuelta a Espana, Giro d’Italia, and Tour de France. However, on the contrary, Uran has just managed to secure stages in the aforesaid races. 

Surprisingly, all these stats defy logic when it comes to the popularity of Uran. A measure of his popularity can be estimated from the humongous cheering Uran received while he kicked off his race at the 2018 edition of Giro de Rigo. So why is the Colombian cyclist so popular? Without further ado, let us quickly dive into the details of the story behind it!

Rigoberto Uran: A cycling testament to common people’s dreams

As pundits wonder about the secret recipe to Uran’s popularity, in a recent interview with NPR, the cyclist spilled it all. He reflected that his failures are the USP behind them. While most popular athletes are perceived as perfectionists with ample accomplishments, Uran’s near misses connect him to the common people. The 36-year-old further stated that just like an ordinary human, he had missed out on fulfilling his dreams by a whisker. 

Another thing that sets Uran apart from the rest is his ability to enjoy the sport. Uran said, “Most athletes are stressed out and don’t enjoy anything. But riding in the Tour de France is very special. People see me at the tour and I’m smiling.”  The Colombian constantly entertains his audiences by pulling off various dance moves, songs, and even bizarre recollections from his arsenal. 

In one instance, Uran shared an ideology of how winning isn’t the point behind participation in the sport for him. It is the ability to enjoy and be able to do what he loves that keeps him connected to the audience.

Uran’s uncanny mannerisms make him stand apart!

During an appearance at a talk show in 2014, Uran jokingly described the process of how cyclists urinated while riding their bikes at 25 miles per hour. Such a sudden and hilarious statement took everyone by surprise and even made the host feel uncomfortable for a moment, drawing out laughter from all around. 

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In another instance, the cyclist brought out his salsa dance moves, leaving the crowds in splits. All these mannerisms have resulted in Uran having an exclusive Amazon Prime documentary to his name called “Rigo.” The cyclist is the proud owner of his cycling brand ‘Go Rigo Go.’ He also owns several Rigo-themed eateries while being a regular endorser for various brands. 

Rigoberto Uran’s success story is indeed an offbeat and inspiring one. We hope he will continue to rise and shine even more in life while entertaining his fans, whom he addresses as his “sons and daughters.” 

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