A reunion that felt like a time machine
The start list alone could have belonged to a Grand Tour from a decade ago: Uran, Nibali, Aru, Quintana, Bernal, Henao and Agnoli all rolled out together alongside thousands of amateur riders. Yet the vibe was more festival than finish line — a reunion of champions reliving what united them long before wattages and world rankings.
Aru, who was invited personally by Uran, described scenes of warmth and chaos as the group landed in Colombia. “From the moment we arrived, people were waiting with flags and phones for photos. Rigo is a national hero there — he’s got the popularity of a rock star.”
The former Giro d’Italia runner-up joined Nibali and Agnoli for the 165-kilometre route, mingling freely among the 8,000 riders who had travelled from across South America. “It wasn’t an easy course, but the goal wasn’t to suffer — it was to enjoy the day with the fans,” he said. “We stopped for pictures, joked around at the feed zones, and I even tried the local papas — like boiled potatoes!”
Rigoberto Uran is the man behind the Giro del Rigo
More than a race
What struck Aru most wasn’t the scale of the event but the love surrounding Uran himself. The Colombian, who has turned his post-racing years into a thriving network of restaurants, tours and cycling events, has built something far beyond sport.
“Rigoberto really deserves all of it,” Aru said. “He’s hugely popular and his event is organised perfectly. It’s great for cycling because it shows how much joy and energy the sport can bring.”
When the riding ended, the music began. A festival village filled with food stalls, live bands and fans dancing late into the evening brought the day to a close — with Nibali and Quintana leading the chorus.
“The man with a thousand faces”
For Aru, the trip was also a reminder of how far he’s come since his own racing days. Among the Colombian crowd he discovered he had picked up a new nickname: El hombre de las mil caras — “the man with a thousand faces.”
“They told me it was because of all the expressions I made when I was suffering,” Aru laughed. “I explained it was just because I was always giving more than I had.”
Amid the laughter and nostalgia, the Italian couldn’t help noticing a sentimental detail: the Giro d’Italia 2014 podium was reunited once again — Quintana, Uran and himself — this time not for battle, but celebration.
For one golden weekend, competition was replaced by camaraderie, and the peloton’s past stars became the life of the party. As Aru put it best: “We didn’t talk much about racing — we just had an amazing time.”