Former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España winner Nairo Quintana has been confirmed together with his present crew, Movistar, for one more yr.
The Colombian climbing star had been extensively anticipated to stay with the Spanish WorldTour squad for one more yr. However for unknown causes, the definitive inexperienced gentle failed to look till barely six weeks earlier than the 2025 season begins.
Set to show 35 subsequent February, Quintana returned to Movistar firstly of 2024. Beforehand, a constructive take a look at for the painkiller Tramadol noticed him disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France and sparked his exit from his crew of the time, Arkéa-Samsic.
Though Quintana didn’t serve a suspension as his offence was coated by UCI’s medical guidelines somewhat than being classed as an anti-doping violation, he was left with no likelihood however to take a hiatus season in 2023 with none racing.
Quintana rode primarily in help of the Movistar crew leaders this season, though a number of crashes and sickness plagued the Colombian’s possibilities of a constant yr.
That didn’t cease him from a notable near-miss after an extended break within the hardest mountain stage of the Giro d’Italia, solely being overhauled nearly close by of the end at Livigno by total winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates).
A winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and Vuelta a España in 2016 with Movistar, in his heyday Quintana’s immense climbing abilities additionally noticed him take a number of podium finishes within the Tour de France. Since his return to the Spanish crew in 2024 and now properly into his thirties, Quintana’s predominant function has been as a high mountain domestique.
“2024 has been a pleasant yr,” Quintana said in a crew press launch saying his contract renewal.
“Personally I had some setbacks beginning with COVID, then a ruptured sternum and a fractured hand. These challenges, along with some extra crashes, meant that I couldn’t be at 100% in vital moments within the season. However I might nonetheless combat again and recuperate properly to assist the crew.”
“I am renewing in 2025 to attempt to receive higher continuity, combat laborious in every race and convey Enric Mas to the best attainable putting in three-week races.”
“Through the 2025 season, we’ll additionally goal to realize as many [UCI] factors as attainable, as that is the final yr on this specific spherical of [WorldTour] classification.”
