Cycling Market: Nairo Quintana could be close to signing for a World Tour team that has been left without a leader

Nairo Quintana, the Colombian cyclist, is in advanced talks to return to the World Tour in 2024, however, his return is shrouded in uncertainty, and the shadow of doubt lingers around his future in elite cycling.

A few days ago, the news that Nairo's brother, Dayer Quintana, announced that the cyclist from Boyacá is negotiating his return to the elite has generated a series of questions. Rather than an exciting comeback, it seems that this chapter of Quintana's career is being written with tinges of ambiguity and tempered expectations.

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The main reason for these tempered expectations is that Nairo could return to elite cycling as a replacement for a leader who has left one of the top squads in the international peloton. This fact, while it could open a new door for the Colombian climber, also suggests that his signing is not necessarily based on a sure bet on his talent, but rather on a need for a replacement.

Previously, teams such as AG2R and Cofidis had been mentioned as being interested in Quintana's services, but now a new team, Bahrain Victorius, appears to be entering the fray. However, the motive behind his possible arrival is not necessarily a vote of confidence in his ability as a leader, but rather a desperate need to fill a void left by the departure of their previous leader, Mikel Landa.

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Nairo Quintana's arrival at Bahrain Victorius is seen as a short-term solution for a team in a complicated situation. The question is whether this opportunity will be a springboard for Nairo or simply a momentary need for the team.

For the moment, Quintana continues to train between Europe and Colombia, and news is expected in the coming weeks. World cycling, although with a hint of excitement, awaits with caution and skepticism the next decisions of Nairo and the team that finally welcomes him back to the World Tour.