Rigoberto Uran has signed a three-year contract extension with Cannondale-Drapac that will keep him at the team until the end of the 2020 season. The Colombian placed second overall at this year`s Tour de France and, although he elicited interest from other teams, he has decided to remain a part of the Slipstream Sports set-up. `I`m very happy with the team,` Uran said in a statement released by the team on Monday. `The environment here suits me. I have a lot of respect for the people that are part of the team - the mechanics, the soigneurs, the staff, my teammates. They know how to have fun off the bike and be serious when it`s time to race. That`s important to me.` Uran arrived at Cannondale in 2016 after previous stints at Caisse d`Epargne, Team Sky and Quick-Step. After a low-key 7th overall at last season`s Giro d`Italia, Uran built his 2017 campaign around the Tour, where he won stage 9 into Chambery and reached Paris in second overall. It marked his highest finish in a Grand Tour since his second place at the 2014 Giro, and his best-ever performance at La Grande Boucle. The 30-year-old intimated that he will again target the Tour in 2018.ADVERTISEMENT `A three-year contract offers security, and the team is willing to allow me to focus my season on the Tour de France. I was very happy to sign,` said Uran. `I`ll race many races, and I have many goals. The biggest, of course, is the Tour de France. I want to win the Tour.` Astana, Trek-Segafredo and UAE-Emirates were all reportedly interested in signing Uran, who hinted at his decision to extend with Cannondale-Drapac ahead of last week`s Colorado Classic. The agreement with Uran was announced on Monday and welcomed by team manager Jonathan Vaughters, who insisted that the Colombian`s fine Tour display had not been entirely unexpected despite his relative travails since leaving Quick-Step. `Cycling is a sport where people have a bad year or two and they get written off quickly,` said Vaughters. `And let ...
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