Nairo Quintana chasing "the best overall classification possible" at Vuelta a Espana where he'll lead Arkéa Samsic
Cycling
After finishing a strong sixth place at the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana proceeds to lead Arkéa Samsic at the Vuelta a Espana, with a team based around his GC ambitions but also stage wins throughout the six weeks.
“La Vuelta is an important objective for Nairo, especially since he has already written his name on the list of winners of this event,” Yvon Ledanois, team DS, said in a press release. "Our leader is aiming for a big result, that is to say the best overall classification possible, as was the case recently on the roads of the Tour de France. The Arkéa-Samsic team will be totally at his service. The icing on the cake would be, in addition to a good final general classification, a stage win for Nairo in this race”.
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Ambitions are high. As in the Tour, Quintana will not be supported by a mountain-focused team, however that has not been an issue at the Tour de France where the team largely was built around protecting him in the treacherous days, whilst in the mountains he only had to keep up with the GC riders. Élie Gesbert will be the sole domestique who will be in a strong position to support the Colombian when the race goes uphill.
Anthony Delaplace will also eye that terrain. Right-hand man Lukasz Owsian will be besides Quintana, whilst the rest of the team will not only protect him on the flat stages, but defend the ambitions of Dan McLay in the sprints. Thibault Guernalec, Simon Gugliemi and Clément Russo will be part of that crucial support block.
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Arkéa Samsic for Vuelta a Espana: Nairo Quintana, Anthony Delaplace, Élie Gesbert, Thibault Guernalec, Simon Gugliemi, Dan McLay, Lukasz Owsian and Clément Russo.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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