Giro d'Italia, La Vuelta... Nairo Quintana shares big goals for 2025 and first races of the season

Nairo Quintana made a comeback to the cycling world in 2024 after a year off due to a Tramadol positive in 2022, and made an impression again with Movistar. He did not take a win, but has taken on a different role with the team, that of a leader and experienced figure to help it's developing riders. Into 2025, he shares what his main objectives will be.

"... We have been in Valencia doing two very good weeks of training, and I have seen the youngsters on the team quite strong," Quintana said in an interview with AS at the team's recent presentation. "As for me, the sensations have been good, with great numbers and wanting to continue enjoying the competition".

Quintana this year came very close to winning a stage at the Giro d'Italia, only beaten by Tadej Pogacar who caught him in the final kilometers of the stage into Mottolino after he had dropped his breakaway companions. He showed good form towards the end of the Vuelta a España and Italian Autumn classics, but the current level is simply much greater than what he had competed against in previous years.

Next month, he starts off the season with a traditional calendar in Spain: "I will start with the Challenge of Mallorca. I will also do Almería, Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya... I will try to prepare for the Giro d'Italia in the best possible way because it is one of my objectives. My schedule is a bit similar to last season. The idea is also to be at La Vuelta to help Enric get him to the podium or higher," he also confirms. It will be a season where he will have often freedom to chase his own results, combining that with a few races where he will be a support rider.

The team signed Pablo Castrillo as the biggest prospect for upcoming seasons, someone Quintana looks forward to race with: "We have new signings that give strength to the team and with the arrival of Pablo I ask for calm, that we don't crush him. He himself will take the appropriate steps and we will surely see him giving some surprises in the Tour. We have seen that Iván Romeo has taken that step in the time trial with his gold and it gives him confidence to fight with the best and the consolidation of Pelayo [Sánchez] and Castrillo. The intention is for the youngsters to take steps forward and we try to guide them and give them our experience."

Quintana was lastly asked about the likely selection of former teammate Alejandro Valverde as the new national coach of Spain: "He has always done very well for his country, he has given himself both to help win and to do it himself and now it will be no different. He has a great eye and great experience, he is a very skilled rider, one of the most successful in the history of cycling and you have a luxury with him in Spain.