Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Rigoberto Uran and more to reunite for Nairo Quintana’s star-studded farewell celebration
CyclingThursday, 17 September 2026 at 14:00
Nairo Quintana is preparing to bring one of the most important chapters of his life to a close with a major gathering in Cartagena de Indias. The Colombian cyclist will say farewell to competitive cycling surrounded by fans, family, friends and some of the biggest names to have shared the peloton with him during his career.
The Gran Fondo Nairo Quintana Fest will take place on October 9, 10 and 11 between Cartagena de Indias and Bolívar, with an extensive programme of activities designed to turn the farewell of the ‘Cóndor de Boyacá’ into a true celebration of cycling and sport.
Quintana will therefore bring the curtain down on a historic career in which he won two of cycling’s Grand Tours.
The Colombian claimed overall victory at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, while also establishing himself as one of the leading figures in Colombian and Latin American cycling.
Nairo Quintana ends a legendary career this season
A gran fondo with several options for participants
The event programme will allow people to take part in a number of different disciplines. The cycling events will include a 186-kilometre Gran Fondo, a 106-kilometre Medio Fondo and a 50-kilometre Retadores event, as well as an MTB XCO race.
The sporting programme will also include three running races over distances of 21 kilometres, 10 kilometres and 5 kilometres. There will also be a children’s circuit, an MTB + Running combined challenge and another combining MTB + Cycling.
The aim will be to bring together participants of different levels and disciplines for a celebration centred around Quintana.
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Contador, Purito, Urán and Froome will join Nairo
One of the major attractions of the event will be the presence of several international cycling stars who raced alongside Quintana during his career. Nairo himself confirmed that names including Alberto Contador, Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez, Rigoberto Urán, Chris Froome and Samuel Sánchez will be there, along with other former colleagues from the international peloton.
“This year I am very happy to be able to celebrate this great closing of my sporting chapter with all of you. I will be joined by great friends and colleagues from international cycling,” Quintana explained.
The Colombian particularly highlighted what it means to be able to share the occasion with former rivals and fellow professionals. The presence of Contador, Purito, Urán, Froome and Samuel Sánchez will bring together in Cartagena several riders who played leading roles in some of international cycling’s biggest moments during Quintana’s racing career.
Nairo Quintana holding off Chris Froome at the 2016 Vuelta a España
“I didn’t pedal alone, I pedalled with an entire country”
The farewell will also have a strongly collective character for the Colombian rider. Quintana made clear that the event will not simply be a personal tribute, but a shared celebration with all the fans who have supported him throughout his career.
“All of this is not an event for me, it is an event and a celebration for all of us, because I didn’t pedal alone, I pedalled with an entire country,” said the Colombian.
With those words, Quintana placed the focus on the relationship he has maintained for years with Colombian fans, who turned his biggest performances on European roads into a source of national pride.
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Carlos Vives will provide the finale
The Gran Fondo Nairo Quintana Fest will also have a musical element. Carlos Vives will bring the event to a close with a concert, completing a celebration combining cycling, running, MTB and music.
“In addition, our friend Carlos Vives will be there for the final closing, a great celebration where we will go and listen to him, including that song which has meant so much to us cyclists,” Quintana explained.
Cartagena is therefore preparing to host Nairo Quintana’s final major gathering as a competitive cyclist. Three days of sporting activities and celebrations will serve as a farewell to one of the biggest names in Colombian cycling, who has chosen to turn the end of his sporting career into a celebration shared with the country and with some of his greatest former team-mates and rivals.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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