Nairo Quintana trains hard with a group of former top-level teammates

More than a year ago, the cycling world was rocked by the news of Nairo Quintana's disqualification from the 2022 Tour de France after testing positive for tramadol. This scandal not only cost him his participation in the race, but also his departure from the Arkea Samsic team.

Despite the complications he is encountering in signing for another team, Nairo Quintana continues to work to maintain his form. The Colombian cyclist takes advantage of his free time to train and reunite with old friends who shared memorable stages of his career.

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In a recent display of his determination and love for cycling, Nairo met up with three of his former Movistar Team teammates: Spain's Jonathan Castroviejo, who now competes for INEOS Grenadiers; Costa Rica's Andrey Amador, who is part of Education First; and Portugal's Rui Oliveira. Together they undertook a ride on a rocky surface, sharing anecdotes and experiences.

These four cyclists shared a team in the Spanish squad between 2016 and 2017, a period in which Nairo Quintana reached the peak of his career by winning the Vuelta a España, with Castroviejo as one of his main domestiques. This reunion not only represents an opportunity to remember the glorious moments of the past, but also to reaffirm the bonds of friendship that were forged on the roads.

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Amid speculation about his future in professional cycling, Dayer Quintana, Nairo's brother and also a professional cyclist, gave an interview in which he revealed that his brother is working on negotiating with a new team with a view to return to competition in 2024. Dayer emphasized that the official news will be given by Nairo in due time, keeping the mystery and expectation around his sporting future.

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Article written by Juan Larra.