Nairo Quintana could've had a dream goodbye from cycling - He now changes plans yet again for final race as a pro
CyclingFriday, 25 September 2026 at 13:50
Nairo Quintana was initially set to retire at the Vuelta a España, which was later changed to the World Championships. As it turns out, this Sunday's race will also not be the last of the Colombian's career, as he is extending his schedule further into the fall.
Quintana, part of Movistar, was not present at last winter's team training camp as he was in an academic training program in Chicago, USA. His retirement at the end of 2026 was already imminent back then, and it was announced later on before the Vuelta a Catalunya.
He aimed to end his career at the Vuelta a España, the race he conquered 10 years ago, but when August came around - despite his good form - there was no selection.
“I would have liked to be there—to offer some experience, participate a bit, and see the race settings firsthand," Quintana said in an interview with El Tiempo.
The Colombian was not at the startlist for the team's historical return to the top, conquering its first Vuelta in ten years; and first Grand Tour since 2019 as Enric Mas displayed his very best level and managed to fulfill his career-long goal of winning the Spanish Grand Tour.
"As it turned out, things played out the way they did, and the team capitalized on it; we knew Enric was in great form, and he was able to make the most of it. Those were technical decisions—ones I had no say in".
Nairo Quintana will retire at the Giro dell'Emilia, according to his new plan
Quintana delays retirement
"Now, I’ll just wrap up a couple of races in Italy with the team this year," he reveals. After his Vuelta absence, his schedule was empty, with the exception of the Montréal World Championships.
The two-time Grand Tour winner looked set to hang up the wheels in Montréal, but that is no longer the case.
Quintana will be racing the Giro dell'Emilia on the 3rd of October, which should be his final outing as a professional rider. In 2012, Quintana won the Italian classic as part of his first World Tour season.
Quintana ready for World Championships
But for the time being, he will try to be of aid for the Colombian team at the national championships. Santiago Buitrago brings in good form from the Vuelta a España, whilst several other climbers have a shot at a strong result.
“It’s clearly a race for specialists; we need to consult with my teammates and the sports director to see who is in the best shape to contend, represent the country at the front of the pack, and go for a medal," he added.
“Let’s be honest: it’s a one-day race for specialists—riders who can generate immense power on these short climbs—but it’s not easy. That’s why it’s important to know the form of Harold Tejada, Brandon [Rivera], and [Sergio] Higuita. Higuita, in particular, is our key rider for this type of course, given his background as a specialist in one-day Classics.”
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.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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