Movistar Team reportedly eyeing major Colombian signing as Nairo Quintana era nears its end

The arrival of the 2026 Giro d’Italia has brought the transfer market into focus across the peloton, and Movistar Team are already being linked with one of the most intriguing riders potentially available for 2027.

According to transfer journalist Daniel Benson, Movistar have begun exploring several options for the future, with Santiago Buitrago emerging as one of the Spanish team’s major targets. The Colombian climber is currently in the final year of his contract with Bahrain - Victorious, meaning he could become one of the most sought after free agents on the market ahead of next season.

The timing is significant for Movistar. With Nairo Quintana retiring at the end of the 2026 campaign, the team are approaching the end of an era that has shaped much of their identity over the past decade. Colombian riders have long played a major role within the organisation, both competitively and commercially, and Buitrago would represent a natural next chapter.

At 26 years old, Buitrago has already established himself as one of the strongest pure climbers in the WorldTour peloton. His aggressive racing style and ability in high mountains have helped him collect major victories across the past four seasons, including Giro d’Italia stage wins in both 2022 and 2023. He also claimed overall victory at the 2025 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and added another prestigious win earlier this year at the 2026 Trofeo Laigueglia.

The Colombian’s profile has continued to evolve beyond stage hunting too. Over the past two seasons he has increasingly moved towards general classification racing, showing greater consistency across week long stage races and Grand Tours. Earlier this year he finished seventh overall at Tirreno-Adriatico, another sign of his growing ambitions in GC competition.

Much of the attention around Buitrago now centres on the 2026 Giro d’Italia, where he is set to lead Bahrain - Victorious with veteran Italian climber Damiano Caruso alongside him in support. It represents one of the biggest tests of his career so far.

Buitrago has already proven he can win mountain stages in the Giro. The next question is whether he can genuinely compete across three weeks against the strongest GC riders in the world. A major performance in Italy would only increase interest in his contract situation, especially given the limited number of elite climbing talents potentially available for 2027.

That is part of what makes the Movistar links particularly interesting. The Spanish team are not simply looking for another experienced rider to strengthen depth. A move for Buitrago would signal a longer term investment in a rider capable of becoming the focal point of their Grand Tour project in the post-Quintana era.

There is also a sporting urgency behind the scenes. The WorldTour relegation battle continues to loom over several teams and consistent point scoring has become increasingly valuable under cycling’s current system. Buitrago’s ability to deliver results across stage races, mountain stages and one day climbing events makes him an especially attractive option in that environment.

Whether Movistar can ultimately secure a deal may depend heavily on what happens over the next three weeks at the Giro d’Italia. If Buitrago takes another major step forward as a GC contender, the Colombian could quickly become one of the hottest names on the transfer market.