Colombia explodes against Arkéa Samsic after "dishonorable" first season without Nairo Quintana
Cycling
The 2023 season of professional cycling has left a shadow of challenges for French team Arkéa Samsic, a year after not renewing Nairo Quintana's contract due to his positive for tramadol at the 2022 Tour de France. As the dust settles at the end of the season, criticism from Colombia has been inevitable as the team failed to fill the void left by the talented climber.
Arkéa Samsic has had a tumultuous year in the World Tour. The absence of Nairo Quintana, who was a key pillar in the team's structure and contributed significantly to its rise from the Pro Team category to cycling's elite, was felt strongly. During the 2023 season, the French team failed to score any victories in the World Tour, a stark contrast to previous years in which Nairo had shone in major competitions.
At the end of the season, Arkéa Samsic ranked 19th out of 20 teams in cycling's top category over the 2023 season. This position puts the French team in a worrying situation, as it is in the relegation places.
Hope on the horizon.
The one who is still without a team after leaving Arkéa is Nairo Quintana. Statements from the ITA (Testing Agency) in Semana suggest that the Colombian rider has a high chance of returning to official competitions next year. The organization is investigating his case, and his return could be an injection of enthusiasm for Colombian cycling fans.
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Article written by Juan Larra.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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UAE wins the ranking for the first time (congrats @Matxin_), despite Jumbo's historic season. Arkéa and Astana are in relegation zone. Lotto and Israel will have wildcards to all WorldTour in 2024, and Uno-X to all WT classics. Olympic rankings at the end of the article 👇
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