On 28 October, Team Movistar announced the signing of Nairo Quintana. The Colombian had already ridden for the Spanish World Tour team from 2012 to 2019. Now he is "happy to be back home", said the 33-year-old. He has signed a one-year contract with Movistar for the 2024 season. Team boss Eusebio Unzue is also happy about the transfer: "Nairo is a huge boost for us. He's only 33 years old and still in good form. He also gets on well with Enric Mas and of course he will work for him in the Grand Tours. But he also gets the chance to show that he can still win himself."
"It's very emotional for me to be back home. It's been such a tough year. The sleepless nights, the many sacrificial days - getting on my bike and pushing on in the rain and sun. But it was all worth it." - Nairo Quintana
Who is Nairo Quintana?
Nairo Quintana entered the big cycling stage with his first move to Team Movistar in 2012. In 2013 and 2015, he finished second overall in the Tour de France, in 2014 he even won the Giro d'Italia for the Spanish team and the Vuelta in 2016. This makes the now 33-year-old one of the most successful South American cyclists ever.
After disagreements with his Movistar team, he left them in 2020 and joined the French team Arkea-Samsic on. In 2022, he impressed at the Tour de France and finished sixth overall. However, the result was subsequently cancelled because the opiate tramadol was detected in two dried blood samples taken from Quintana on 8 and 13 July. Although the substance was not on the World Anti-Doping Agency's anti-doping list (it will not be included there until 1 January 2024), it is already banned in competitions by the UCI itself. As a result of the incident, Quintana subsequently no longer raced for Arkea-Samsic and is now returning to the cycling circuit after a year out of contract.
Nairo Quintana's reasons for returning to Movistar
For 33-year-old Nairo Quintana, the Movistar return is probably his last chance to gain a foothold at World Tour level. He already knows the Spanish team very well from his previous time and will therefore find it easy to fit in there. After this season, Movistar will lose one of its top climbers, Matteo Jorgensen, to Jumbo-Vismaso the Colombian is a welcome reinforcement.
Although Quintana has been announced as Enric Mas' noble helper, the Movistar classics rider is unlikely to be able to contest all the Grand Tours, so the Colombian can count on his chances here. After his one-year break from racing, however, he will probably first have to recommend himself in smaller tours. If he succeeds in doing so, he could act as co-captain behind Mas and be on hand should he be unable to race. For example, Movistar did not have a plan B ready for the 2023 Tour de France when Mas had to abandon after a crash on the first stage. The Colombian also has the prospect of having his one-year contract extended if he performs well. At 33 years of age and one year out of racing, the "Andean Condor", as Quintana is also known, is likely to remain a bit of a surprise package - it remains to be seen how well he will actually perform.
Motives of the Movistar team
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The Spanish team Movistar had a disappointing 2023 season. Only one stage win was celebrated in the Grand Tours. One Rubio won the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia, and the Spanish team even came away completely empty-handed in the spring classics. Although the team is not yet in serious relegation trouble (see three-year evaluation), but it is now reliant on success to avoid having to say goodbye to cycling's premier league after all. An experienced rider with pedigree, who was sixth in the Tour de France in 2022 until his disqualification, therefore sounds like a sensible signing. The lack of success of the former Quintana team Arkea-Samsic this season shows that the Colombian can still have an impact on a team - the team was much stronger with him.
For little money, Movistar is getting a rider who can be more than just a noble helper for Enric Mas. If he returns to a good level after his one-year break, he has the potential to score the necessary UCI points for the Spanish team and occasionally achieve top results in the general classification and mountain stages. The team could also market itself better in South America, where Quintana is an extremely popular athlete.
Nairo Quintana only second choice?
In late summer, however, it looked as if Movistar could land another top rider in Carlos Rodriguez. At the end of August, Sebastian Unzue, son of manager Eusebio Unzue, told GCN that the Tour de France fifth-placed rider had signed a preliminary contract with Movistar. Rodriguez ultimately decided otherwise and extended his contract with Ineos Grenadiers, leaving Movistar in the lurch. It is possible that the management then gave the green light for Quintana's signing. The talks between the Spanish team and Quintana are likely to have started earlier. Eusebio Unzue was spotted with Quintana at the Vuelta a Espana in Andorra at the end of August.
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Win-win situation?
Both Nairo Quintana and Team Movistar could benefit from the deal: For the Colombian, it is a great opportunity to regain a foothold in the cycling circus - provided there is no repeat of his use of banned substances. If he returns to the form of 2022, he could not only be a noble helper for Enric Mas, but also occasionally ensure stage wins or good placings in tours himself. Movistar could also benefit from the experienced Colombian, who can help to collect important UCI points. Nevertheless, there is a slight flavour due to the one-year break and the use of banned substances. However, the risk is not too high, as Quintana has probably not signed an expensive contract. The transfer could therefore be a win-win situation and the "Andean condor" could suddenly become a phoenix.
