With a stage win and the mountains jersey in the Giro d'Italia, Julian Arredondo had a fantastic first professional season. However, things have not always been plain sailing for the talented Colombian who considered retirement a few years ago.

When Julian Arredondo won a big mountain stage and secured the mountains jersey in the Giro d'Italia, it was hard to believe that no one had wanted to sign the talented Colombian for years. However, the Colombian had a difficult time when he first arrived in Eruope.

"I have been abroad for six years," he told La Patria. "First I rode in Italy in the minor categories. I spent two years in Japan and then I turned professional. Last year I proved that I am able to be with the best," he told La Patria in an interview.

"During the last years, I though about retirement because no one believed in me. But perseverance makes you overcome many things. I believe in God and knew that at some point life would change and now you can see where I am. It went like I thought and not like others said. Many times I knocked at the doors of Team Colombia but nobody believed in me. Now things will be better.

"I think the Tour de Langkawi (Malaysia) which I won, allowed me to take the final step towards becoming professional. For a long time, I had won races but it is not easy to move up the ranks. Now I am with Trek, an American team that is licensed in Belgium."

The Giro d'Italia was the big breakthrough for Arredondo.

"I did things right," he said. "I trained and thought I could achieve good results. The crash took me out of the GC but it gave me the option of going for the mountains jersey and win a stage. It was sensational and unforgettable.  

"You have to dream big, but you must do a serious preparation, have passion and commitment to reach the results. I thought of winning a stage in the Giro, I did, and now I have new goals."

This year Arredondo is set to make his Tour de France debut.

"At the moment, I am expected to do the Tour but we have to wait and see how I go in the race. If nothing happens, I will also do the Vuelta a Espana.

"I want to do a grand tour and I want to do the classics. I'm working and we'll see what happens."

Arredondo is part of a golden generation of Colombian riders.

"We enjoy the best time for Colombian cycling," he said. "We have more fans and more resources and this is reflected in the affection of the people. We are very young and we have many things to learn."

Arredondo is convinced that the stricter doping controls are part of the reason for the Colombian success.

"This helps us to improve because, unlike the Europeans, we stay at between 2000 and 3000 meters of altitude. That has played a big rold in the rebirth of cycling. In Colombia, we are also working to make cycling clean and that will help the true talents."