"It’s no longer about results": Movistar DS appreciates the newly discovered version of "road captain" Nairo Quintana

Those who followed the Tour of Oman saw it last week: Nairo Quintana flashed his class in the two mountain stages, after almost two years without major results. However, according to Movistar Team sports director Maximilian Sciandri, that does not mean the Colombian will regularly fight for wins again.

On Eastern Mountain, Quintana attacked and briefly looked on course for the stage win. On the final day to Green Mountain, he held on until the last kilometre alongside Christian Scaroni and Adam Yates. "For a moment we started to dream," admits Sciandri to WielerFlits, and adds that "it wasn’t exactly a surprise either. Nairo is still Nairo. He is and will remain a real killer. Age is an issue, but he keeps looking for opportunities."

The coach concedes that "he’s less consistent in terms of results," but insists "the old Nairo hasn’t vanished." He recalls that "on his good days he’s still very good," citing the 2024 Giro stage finishing in Cortina, where "Tadej Pogacar only got the better of him right before the line."

He also notes that "last year he was there at certain moments," while acknowledging that "winning is increasingly difficult, but we must keep trying to get the best out of him."

Sciandri makes it clear that the 2014 Giro and 2016 Vuelta winner is no longer in the team to rack up victories. "His consistency is now in other tasks: overseeing, guiding, helping, talking and mentoring," he says.

According to the sports director, "his role has changed: it’s no longer about results, but about passing on experience to the young riders. That’s why we wanted him back. Nairo is a fantastic person to have in the team."

That lesser-known side of the Colombian stands out within the squad. "Some riders know how to give, others don’t have it in their nature. Nairo enjoys sharing his experience," stresses Sciandri, pointing to his work in Oman: "He spent the whole week alongside the young Colombian Diego Pescador. It’s great to see. I’ve known great riders who don’t have that ability."

The Colombian is also a frequent voice on the team radio. "You hear him a lot on internal comms. He guides the team through the stages, often alongside Iván García Cortina," the coach explains. While he admits that "he doesn’t say revolutionary things," he underlines that "when you’ve raced few stage races, even the simplest information can be key. Details make the difference."

Sciandri also wanted to highlight the respect Quintana commands within the team despite the controversy over the discovery of tramadol in blood tests during the 2022 Tour, which kept him out of competition for a year. "We’ve always believed in his innocence," he says firmly. "Everyone adores him and trusts him. Both I and the riders have immense respect for him."

The coach acknowledges that period was tough. "If it’s already complicated for a director or a soigneur to come back after a year out, it’s much harder for a rider. Mentally, you have to look ahead and get back to the level. Nairo has done that very well. That he now tires more and gets fewer results is down to age."

Even though this is expected to be his final season, Quintana’s motivation remains intact. "Every night he’s the first to sit at the table. He monitors everything like a 360-degree camera. He’s like a radar switched on all day," says Sciandri, who adds that "I’m not afraid he’s prolonging his career too much, though the final decision will be his. We’re delighted to have him."

The sports director does not rule out the Colombian helping the team’s new signing, Cian Uijtdebroeks, in his Grand Tour ambitions. "Maybe yes. Cian joined the team late and they haven’t had much contact yet, but I think Nairo and the rest fit very well with him. In a world dominated by numbers, PDFs and spreadsheets, we still have a human side."