There is now a Colombian television program about the life of Ricoberto Urán. It's more than Olympic medals and Grand Tour podiums, fashion shoots and appearances on the celebrity pages of newspapers.
Ricoberto's father was killed by a paramilitary group three months after introducing Rico to cycling. Rico was 14. Suddenly, he had to work to support his mother and sister. He took over his father's job, selling lottery tickets to support his family, going to school and trying to race. He won a lot more.
At 16, it was more. Rico told his cycling team that he either had to go pro or quit and go back to selling lottery tickets. Technically, he was too young to become a professional. To offset that fact, the team awarded the contract to his mother. Three years later, Rico went to Europe for the first time for a small Italian team.
He never looked back. Highlights of his illustrious career include Olympic silver medals and stage finishes at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Rico is still a contender. In 2022, he won stage 17 of the Vuelta, completing his trifecta of stage wins at every grand tour, and was a force in the autumn classics.
Rico continues to inspire his teammates and an entire generation of cyclists with his laid-back, fun-loving approach to the sport.