Uran withdraws from Tour de France

Rigoberto Uran's dreams of making the 2018 Tour de France podium for a second consecutive year will not be realised after the Colombian pulled out prior to Stage 12.

Rigoberto Uran. Source: Getty

Uran (EF Education First-Drapac), who finished runner-up behind Chris Froome (Sky) last year, was battered and bruised after a crash on the cobblestones to Roubaix on Sunday. He struggled on Stage 11 to finish 30th overall, more than 31 minutes behind race leader Geraint Thomas (Sky).

The prospect of another day fighting his body on another mountain stage in the Alps was too much to bear.

“Today I have to share some bad news,” Uran said. “I didn’t recover after the crash. Yesterday in the first real climb, all day, there was pain in my body.”

“It’s difficult for me and also for my team. We prepared for this Tour, all season we were focused on the Tour. Sometimes this happens, and this time, I think it’s the best decision for me to recover and to recover well.”

Stage 12 is the most difficult in the Alps this year, featuring gruelling ascents including the Col de la Madeleine, the Col de la Croix-de-Fer and the famed 21 bends to L'Alpe d'Huez ski resort.