Contemplating retirement, Rigoberto Urán decided to extend his career and penned a new contract with EF Education-Easy Post.

The Colombian, a former runner-up in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, had nothing set in stone until the end of the season when his current contract expired. However, the 35-year-old has now agreed to continue his contract with the team he represents starting in 2016.

The team indicated in a statement that it made the decision after a strong showing in last season's Italian race. The length of the new contract is undisclosed, but Uran has indicated that he intends to continue racing for multiple years.

"I decided to continue racing because I love it. I'm passionate about what I do. My life is on the bike." [Most important is the support of my family. My family likes being here in Europe. They spend a lot of time away from Colombia, so it's important that they like it here. I like it here and I like riding, so I want to continue for a few more years. I can combine my life in Colombia with the sport here in Europe, and I have the support of my family.

Uran just completed his 17th season as a professional, first racing for a lower Italian team as a teenager before spending three years with Movistar, three with Ineos, and two with Quick Step before moving to EF in 2016. During that time he established himself as a leading Grand Tour rider, winning back-to-back second places in the 2013 and 2014 Giro and finishing highest behind Chris Froome in the 2017 Tour.

His recent stage win at the Vuelta a España completed a set of stage wins in all three Grand Tours, along with a top-10 finish and a fifth-place finish at the Giro delle Miglia, and perhaps even after several seasons of disappointing results, he can still be competitive convinced him that he could still be competitive, perhaps even after a few disappointing seasons.

"This is the last year I can be on the podium. I want to do my best for the podium. I want to do my best for the podium. I will keep striving for that. That's why we keep racing each other."

"There are a lot of young riders now, so I try to support them and share what I've learned over the years. Sometimes that's what it takes."

Uran's contract extension solidifies his legacy at EF Education-Easy Post, with team boss Jonathan Vaughters admitting that Uran has "saved" the team in the past.

The U.S. team had suffered several sponsorship crises prior to EF's arrival, most notably at the end of 2017, when the team seemed set to disband. Uran, who had just finished second in the Tour when his market value was at its highest, remained loyal to the team's crowdfunding and eventually EF entered into a partnership that continues to this day.

"Rigo has saved this organization many times. He is not a force to be reckoned with, but a leader by example. He will be invaluable in guiding the young riders on this team. For me, Rigo is not just a team member, but a true partner and family member," Vaughters said.

EF Education - Easy Post has finalized its 2023 roster in recent weeks. It was recently announced that Mikel Honoré was pulled from Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl, where he had signed a 2023 contract.

The team's main signing is Richard Kalapas from Ineos Grenadiers, who looks to take over the mantle as Uran's Grand Tour leader. Andrei Amador also followed Carapaz as domestique, and in August, off-road riders Lachlan Morton and Alex Howes were dropped from the road roster, and Jefferson Cepeda and Andrea Piccolo joined from Drone Hopper Androni They were joined by.

Sebastian Langefeld retires and Michael Bargren falls into a Nippo-sponsored development setup as he continues to recover from a career-threatening injury. The team has signed a number of riders, including Esteban Chaves.