"This is a very special moment for any cyclist. I couldn't do it in the Vuelta a Espana (Uran crashed out of his final Grand Tour on stage 6 ed.), but God knows how to do things. Today in Medellín, in front of all my people and the participants of the Giro de Rigo, witnesses of what is going to happen, I am giving up cycling professionally. I just want to say: Thank you, bicycle. Thanks to you I was able to achieve a lot, I was able to support my family, I was able to fight and inspire an entire country," said an emotional Uran at the ceremony, in quotes collected by
Marca.
A two-time Giro d'Italia runner-up, Uran also finished 2nd overall to Chris Froome at the 2017 Tour de France. With Grand Tour stage victories to his name from all three of cycling's biggest races, Uran ends his career with a very impressive palmares including a total of 14 victories and 25 Grand Tour appearances.
"I never imagined that a career like this was possible, you are a phenomenon. You knew that you were going to be happy when you came across him in the peloton," Rodriguez commented warmly, whilst Valverde also shared some nice words: "Being with him has always been a joy . What he has given to this country has been enormous."