“If I were in good shape, I wouldn’t retire” - Nairo Quintana's honest fitness confession as he bids farewell to cycling
Cycling
Nairo Quintana is approaching the end of his career with a mixture of sadness, nostalgia and satisfaction at all he has achieved. The Colombian rider admits that retirement is a difficult moment, but takes comfort in knowing he gave everything he had on the bike. “I gave 100%, I gave what I had, and that was the result,” he says, convinced he has nothing to reproach himself for after a career that brought him victories at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, as well as a podium finish at the Tour de France.
The Colombian was particularly moved by the tribute he received during his final race. The presence of former rivals and teammates, who had become friends over the years, made an already meaningful moment even more special.
Quintana had imagined it during the final months of his career. He thanked the peloton for the gesture and the fans for their affection, which he considers the greatest reward of his professional career.
The farewell, however, did not happen overnight. He had begun planning his commitments away from competition some time earlier, allowing him to gradually accept that each race would be his last. “You feel a deep sense of nostalgia when you realise that it really is your last race,” he admits in an interview with El Espectador. The rider also knows the transition will be difficult, especially without racing and after leaving behind an activity that has shaped his life for so many years.
Figures who shared some of modern cycling’s most important chapters with him joined him at the close of this stage. Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Samuel Sánchez, Dani Moreno and his sports director, José Luis Arrieta, were among those at his side. For Quintana, ending his career surrounded by the people who helped write that story made the farewell especially emotional.
Nairo Quintana
The legacy of the Colombian champion
Beyond his retirement, Quintana also reflected on the state of Colombian cycling and the challenges it faces in maintaining its international standing. In his view, the problem is not a lack of talent, but a shortage of solid projects, funding and effective management to make the most of young riders’ potential.
“Colombian cycling needs investment.” The rider recalls how courage and adaptability enabled Colombians to go head-to-head with European riders in his early years. But he believes advances in technology and training methods have widened the gap.
In this context, he highlighted the importance of the Tour de l'Avenir in restoring confidence in Colombian cycling. That victory showed that riders from the country could beat rivals from around the world and ushered in a renewed sense of ambition. For Quintana, it was one of the finest experiences he could have as an athlete and a representative of Colombia.
Quintana's dream to win the Tour de France
His own career was driven by a single dream: winning the Tour de France. He tried several times and finished second in 2013 and 2015, results that established him among the leading riders of his generation. Although he never wore yellow in Paris, he won the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and the Vuelta a España in 2016, adding two major titles to his palmarès and proving his ability to contend in Grand Tours.
Over the years, Quintana learned to accept the natural cycles of sport. He explains that, as a young rider, he had to work out for himself how to handle victories and pressure. Later, he understood that stronger riders would always emerge and that the spotlight never lasts forever.
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“If I were strong, I wouldn’t retire,” he admits, while insisting that his decision was planned so he could bring his career to a close before sporting decline determined the ending.
His final assessment is positive. Quintana was able to keep racing, contribute to his team and win a race during his farewell season. Above all, though, he will remember the affection he received over the years. “The most important thing about an athlete is not their victories, but what they can share with and do for their people,” he says. That popular recognition, he insists, has been the greatest reward of his career.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- Great to see him finish strongmij15-10-2026
- I guess not since it is happening all of the timemij15-10-2026
- Like any of them could beat Pogi! As if!Lozza15-10-2026
- Perhaps the ITA need to employ people who have some humanity. So the family didn't complain at the time but surely on being told of the death the official should have passed on their condolences and gone away.Andy12315-10-2026
- Absolutely notbruins3015-10-2026
- what would the organizers loose if they pay men and women the same prize money? it is a shame that the unfairness is preserved even on a level where it would be so easy to change with nothing but positive consequences ... heck, they could even claim to promote equal rights ...Ketterechts15-10-2026
- is this crazy?Ketterechts15-10-2026
- WTF? What should I apologize for? Did you understand what I wrote?MajorPayne15-10-2026
- Could we give Seixas time to be Seixas and not make comparisons too soon? Maybe it’s my age speaking, but he’s a mere 20, barely started. Sure, a phenom, but so young. Will he win 8 Monuments like van der Poel so far, will he win 4 grand tours like Vingegaard? Those have been the two seconds to Pogačar’s first, since covid. Yes, there’s an eventual changing of the guard, but Seixas will need time to build the palmares to make his case. Might we please give him that time (while we enjoy the hell out of his riding)?RidesHills15-10-2026
- You've been dropped multiuple times from this site LOL !frieders315-10-2026
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