"It’s a place I will always carry in my heart" - Nairo Quintana takes comeback win at the Vuelta a Asturias - The last of his career?

Nairo Quintana has again left his mark on the northern roads of Spain after sealing a third overall title at the Vuelta a Asturias, a race that has become the stage of choice for his displays of class and endurance, and has been the stage for his return to victories for the first time since 2022.

This victory is not just another trophy in his extensive palmarès, but a testament to his competitive longevity and tactical intelligence within the professional peloton. This past Sunday, racing for Movistar, the Colombian climber had to master a tense finale, with relentless UAE attacks from the outset designed to crack the Colombian's resistance.

Even so, Quintana showed that experience is a sturdy shield against the impatience of the new generation, managing pace and gaps with the precision of a veteran who knows every inch of Asturian tarmac.

The decisive stage was far from a victory parade for the rider from Boyacá. The aggression of his rivals forced Movistar to keep a tight grip on the race, shutting down any move that might endanger the leader’s jersey.

After crossing the line and confirming his success, which was built on the stage win on the second day of the race, Quintana was clear that the battle demanded the maximum and that the final outcome was the result of a plan executed to perfection by his teammates.

The rider underlined the day’s tactical complexity, explaining that “it was spectacular. We worked well as a team, we controlled it well, and we knew UAE came with intent.” Beyond another individual win, the leader of the Navarrese squad showed his generous side by trying to shepherd the team’s younger riders.

Quintana embraced his mentor role without dulling his competitive edge: “I wanted to acknowledge the team’s work, what Diego Pescador had done, and I wanted to give him a hand to get onto the podium. It got a bit messy there at the end, but we kept it under control and then we were able to get him on the podium too.”

This was Quintana's first victory since the 2022 Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, which came before his tramadol suspension and his return to Movistar in 2024. This is Quintana's last season in the peloton, as he announced at the Volta a Catalunya, and he is ending his career with a high point.

One of the cornerstones of this final stage was Pelayo Sánchez, who redeemed a subdued 'Vueltina' on the slopes of El Padrún. The Asturian, racing on home roads, became the key piece in neutralising rival offensives and clearing the path to the podium for his leader.

Quintana did not hold back in praising the local rider’s effort, who started his season here, especially valuing the personal resurgence he has undergone after a string of physical issues in recent months.

For the Colombian, seeing a teammate shine after adversity is as rewarding as the overall win itself. In that sense, the winner of the Asturian race noted that “the truth is he came from injuries, from a bad spell, and seeing how he rode today, the work he did, he was motivated on his home roads, and for us it was brilliant as a team.”

This cohesion and collective sacrifice have been the foundations on which Quintana built his dominance in this edition, proof that cycling remains a sport of absolute trust.

This victory in the Principality also carries an emotional farewell. With 17 seasons at the top of world cycling, Nairo Quintana knows that some of his appearances at certain races are becoming the last of his professional career.

As the route of the next Vuelta a España will not visit the Asturias, this edition of the Vuelta a Asturias was his last big date with one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in the world. True to his humility, the Colombian used the spotlight to send a message of deep gratitude to the fans who have cheered his name on every climb.

His bond with this land goes beyond sport, as he expressed after the race: “I’ll keep riding around here, I’ll keep coming here with friends. I don’t know if we’ll race here again, but my immense thanks for all the affection you’ve given us, for all the support, for coming out to the roads, for always encouraging me. It’s a place I will always carry in my heart.”

Quintana leaves the Asturias with the winner’s jersey and the satisfaction of having honoured his profession, even thanking the media for their role in connecting with the public: “Thanks to everyone, immensely, to television as well, which does a special job of transmitting everything we cyclists do to thrill people, to thrill all the fans.”