In 2024, Quintana will join the World Tour ranks after struggling to find a team in 2023 due to testing positive for Tramadol during 2022. “It’s super emotional for me to be back home. It’s been such a tough year.” The 33-year-old climber and general classification specialist is set to join the 28-man strong Spanish world tour team, Movistar.
“I know the values of the team, the values of sport. I will give my everything do things right, and I want to help the team achieve the best results. I’m so incredibly thankful to the Movistar Team, Telefónica, the squad, the whole squad, for this great opportunity, which I’ve been waiting for for so long.”
In a press release, Quintana mentions wanting to “help the team achieve the best results.” Could this mean riding in aid of Enric Mas at the Tour de France, or could he be taking leadership of the team for his own Grand Tour ambitions? Having numerous GC podium finishes at the Tour de France and winning the 2014 Giro d’Italia, Quintana knows how to focus on his own race. That said, will having raced only once this year, at the Colombian national championships, affect his ability to perform with the best? Afterall he finished 3rd, just behind two World Tour riders, so I guess we have to wait and see.
“The sleepless nights, so many days of sacrifice, going on my bike and trying to keep pushing, under the rain or the scorching sun. But it was all worth it. I won’t waste this opportunity.”
This is a controversial signing by Movistar, and one that not everyone is happy about. Quintana was caught using Tramadol at the 2022 Tour de France while riding for the French Pro Continental team, Arkea-Samaic. Tramadol is not directly a performance-enhancing drug; however, the painkiller is said to make it easier to push through the pain barrier, and WADA is set to add it to the prohibited substance list in 2024. If you like racing new, read out article on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2024!
written by
Guy Tucker
A freelance writer with a number of years’ experience writing on all things cycling. After competing internationally as a triathlete, he then moved onto cycling, working his way up the French amateur ranks. Guy has recently decided to step away from racing and focus on writing, as well as having fun on two wheels. The years spent heavily involved in sport have given him great insight and valuable knowledge, which is demonstrated in his work.
