"It’s no longer about results": Movistar DS appreciates the newly discovered version of "road captain" Nairo Quintana
Cycling
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."
Mentor to the young and a voice on the road
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."
Nairo Quintana remains a key piece at Movistar Team
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."
Motivation intact and eyes on the future
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."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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