Nairo Quintana will once again defend the Spanish Movistar colours. The team confirmed the Colombian climber’s return via social media.
The 33-year-old Quintana knows the house well, having already driven for Movistar for eight seasons between 2012 and 2019. During that period, he won the Tour of Italy (2014) and the Tour of Spain (2016) and climbed onto the podium three times (the second in 2013 and 2015 and the third in 2016).
Between 2020 and 2022, the French continental region Arkia Samsic was the employer.
This year he was without a team after he was caught using the banned painkiller Tramadol. As a result, the Colombian was excluded from the 2022 Tour rankings, where he finished sixth. Quintana appealed this exclusion at TAS, but was rejected.
“Coming back here is very emotional for me,” Quintana says. “It was a very difficult year. Sleepless nights, many days full of sacrifices, riding and walking, rain or sun. But it was all worth it.”
“I will not waste this opportunity. I know the values of the team and the sport. I will do my best to do it the right way and I want to help the team achieve the best results.”
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