“Rigo”, the Telenovela honoring Colombian Cyclist Rigoberto Uran

For months, Colombians have passionately followed the release of episodes of “Rigo”, a biographical telenovela that narrates the childhood and career of Rigoberto Uran, a Colombian cycling superstar. Produced by the Colombian TV channel Canal RCN, the telenovela has been airing since October 9, 2023, and already runs to 83 episodes.

After football, cycling is the most popular sport in Colombia, with millions of amateur and professional cyclists. This national passion is reflected in the telenovela’s viewership, with between 5.5 million and 9.3 million viewers per episode. Thanks to its success, the telenovela is available on the subscription streaming platform Prime Video.

The amazing story of Rigoberto Uran

Rigoberto Uran stands out as one of Colombia’s most celebrated and beloved cyclists. Born in 1987 in Urrao, a small village in Antioquia Department, Rigo faced the tragedy of losing his father to an assassination by a paramilitary group when he was only 14. Despite his challenging beginnings, his passion for cycling quickly positioned him as a promising talent for Colombian professional cycling, as he won the 2004 and 2005 junior editions of the Vuelta a Colombia, the country’s most prestigious cycling race.

As a professional cyclist, Uran has excelled in the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions, winning stages at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, and notably earning a silver medal in the Men Road’s Race at the 2012 Olympic Games. Uran’s remarkable achievements has established him as a global ambassador for Colombian cycling, along with other Colombian icons like Egan Bernal and Nairo Quintana.

The international success of Colombian telenovelas

“Rigo” is not the first Colombian telenovela to captivate an international audience. In recent years, successful telenovelas like “Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord” (Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal) and “The Queen of Flow” (La Reina del Flow) have been broadcasted on the streaming platform Netflix, attracting viewers from around the globe. The most iconic Colombian telenovela, however, might be “Yo soy Betty, la fea” (I am Betty, the ugly one) which has seen 28 international adaptations, including the comedy-drama “Ugly Betty” in the United States, “Yo soy Bea” in Spain and even “There is no one like Jassi” (Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin) in India, showcasing the success of Colombia in the telenovela format.