Nairo Quintana and Arkéa Samsic part ways following tramadol case

Nairo Quintana has recently signed a three-year contract with Arkéa Samsic which saw the mutual trust between both parties, however his tramadol positive test has seen the two break the new contract, and instead end their relation almost with immediate effect.

Quintana tested positive for the painkiller tramadol during the 2022 Tour de France. Although he was not suspended, his result from the race and the points he accumulated were removed, and Quintana withdrew from the Vuelta a Espana where he was planned to lead last-minute in order to focus on his defense.

“I want to thank Arkéa-Samsic for these three seasons where we were able to have many races," Quintana said in a video posted on Instagram. "We won some, we lost others. I was able to give all my experience, all my learning to a great team. I was able to get the points to take the team to the World Tour, fulfilling what was promised when they hired me."

The Colombian proved a crucial role in these three years, being a main protagonist for the team's promotion to World Tour. Despite rumours of leaving, he re-signed for the the French team into the coming three seasons before the Tour, but everything has changed in the meantime. His contract until 2025 has been broken and Quintana will not race for Arkéa anymore, ending his season with immediate effect due to injuries.

“I want to announce that I will not continue at Arkéa-Samsic next season as we announced on August 16. I will continue pedaling and soon I will comment on my future. Due to health issues I will miss the last races, so I am ending my 2022 season," he concluded.

With little evolution on his defense, it becomes a very complicated situation for the Colombian who finds himself without a team for the coming season already deep into the end of the season.