Nairo Quintana about his role at the Vuelta a Espana: "I will accompany Enric as much as I can"

Nairo Quintana is looking forward to the Vuelta a Espana. The Colombian, who won the Spanish Grand Tour in 2016, hopes to play an important role with Movistar Team and says he will try to fight for the overall and support Enric Mas as much as he can.

It's quite clear Quintana won't be the main man himself, but that doesn't mean that the 19th man of this year's Giro, who came agonizingly close to winning the fifteenth stage, arrives completely without ambitions. "I'm going to have a captain role, accompanying Enric as much as I can."

Nairoman proudly recalled on ESPN his best moments in the race and focused on the fact that most of the rivals he will face were children when he was already winning stages in grand tours, something that gives him extra motivation:

"I'm happy to be here. In 2019 I won a stage, but twelve years ago was my first Vuelta. Time goes by and well all these guys, today gentlemen, were kids. To continue racing with them makes me feel young and with a lot of desire."

In his return to the elite after a blank year after not being renewed by Arkéa due to his positive test for tramadol at the Tour de France 2022, Quintana has regained the smile and joy in Movistar, his lifelong team: "Like a kid really, enjoying every moment. I'll try to take advantage of every circumstance we're given and do a great job so the team can do well."