Nairo Quintana set for farewell World Championships as he leads Colombia line-up alongside Egan Bernal in Montreal

Cycling
Saturday, 05 September 2026 at 13:32
Nairo Quintana
Colombia has finalised its representatives for the Montreal 2026 World Championships. The South American squad heads to Canada with a blend of experience, established names, and riders expected to take the lead in the coming years.
The men’s road race, scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, will feature six Colombian riders. Headlining the selection is Nairo Quintana, one of the country’s modern-era icons, who is likely approaching one of his final major international appearances.
Alongside the Movistar Team rider will be Egan Bernal and Santiago Buitrago, Colombia’s key cards to chase a high-profile result. They arrive with different profiles but the range to handle a hard, selective race.
The roster is completed by Harold Tejada, Sergio Higuita, and Brandon Rivera. The latter will also take on a second assignment, starting the individual time trial together with Walter Vargas, with Colombia holding two spots in the discipline.

Nairo Quintana, present for a special occasion

Including Nairo Quintana adds a symbolic dimension to the Colombian selection. The 36-year-old Movistar Team rider is in the closing stretch of a career that made him one of the premier climbers of his generation and the first Colombian to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.
His presence in Montreal brings the Boyacá native back to the World Championships, though the team goal will take precedence over any individual ambition. Quintana also embodies the bridge between eras in Colombian cycling, having paved the way for many of today’s elite riders.
Harold Tejada and Egan Bernal
Harold Tejada and Egan Bernal

Bernal and Buitrago, Colombia’s cards for the result

Egan Bernal will be another of Colombia’s major references. The Netcompany Ineos rider arrives after an uneven season, but his ability to perform in the toughest races remains intact. His Grand Tour experience and wins at the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia make him a threat whenever the route encourages a natural selection.
Santiago Buitrago completes the core of Colombian contenders. The Bahrain Victorious rider has been one of the protagonists at the Vuelta a España 2026 and reaches the Worlds at a key point in his season.
His knack for thriving in reduced groups and attacking from range could be decisive in a race likely to reward patience and tactical reading.

Tejada, Higuita and Rivera round out the block

Harold Tejada will bring experience and work rate to the Colombian lineup. The XDS Astana rider is also racing the Vuelta a España, where he has again shown his reliability on demanding terrain. Sergio Higuita, his teammate, offers another option for a squad built with varied profiles to handle multiple race scenarios.
Brandon Rivera will complete the road race sextet and also start the individual time trial. The Netcompany Ineos rider will share that responsibility with Walter Vargas, the Colombian specialist who rounds out the national representation against the clock.
Colombia will approach Montreal with a balance of veterans and emerging leaders. Nairo Quintana brings the weight of a historic generation, while Bernal and Buitrago will shoulder much of the sporting expectation. The aim is to play the different cards in a race that may open chances for pure climbers and riders able to anticipate the final selection.

Colombia’s selections for the Montreal 2026 World Championships

RiderTeam
Nairo QuintanaMovistar Team
Egan BernalNetcompany Ineos
Santiago BuitragoBahrain Victorious
Harold TejadaXDS Astana
Sergio HiguitaXDS Astana
Brandon RiveraNetcompany Ineos
Walter VargasMedellin EPM
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