OFFICIAL | Nairo Quintana retires from cycling in 2026 - The end of a historic career

Colombian rider Nairo Quintana has announced his retirement from professional cycling at a press conference ahead of the Volta a Catalunya 2026. The veteran climber will close, at the season's end, a career spanning more than 15 years at the highest level, most of it with Movistar Team, where he established himself as one of the standout climbers of his generation.

Over his career he claimed victories in two Grand Tours, multiple wins in stage races and several podiums at the Tour de France, while remaining a constant presence among the most competitive riders in the international peloton.

From his first seasons in Europe, Quintana stood out for his climbing prowess. His ability to perform on long climbs and at high altitude made him especially competitive in Grand Tours, where mountainous terrain is often decisive for the general classification. This trait shaped his racing style and defined many of his most important results.

His breakthrough at the top level came in 2013, when he finished second at the Tour de France, a result that placed him among the main contenders for Grand Tours and earned him international recognition. That same season he also took wins in stage races such as Itzulia Basque Country and the Vuelta a Burgos, consolidating his progression in the professional ranks.

“It’s an important day for me and for all my loved ones. I’m here to tell you that this year will be the last of my career as a professional cyclist,” said Nairo Quintana at the start of an emotional press conference.

“Coming back home, to Movistar Team, was more than just a return. I want to thank every teammate, every staff member and everyone who stood behind me in tough times. Thank you for being part of this journey.”

The greatest success of his career came in 2014, when he won the Giro d’Italia, becoming one of the few Colombian cyclists to claim a Grand Tour. In that edition he prevailed after a very solid final week in the mountains and also won decisive stages that allowed him to secure the overall.

Two years later, in 2016, he took victory at the Vuelta a España, sealing his second win in a three-week race. With that result he became one of the riders to reach the podium in all three Grand Tours, having also finished second at the Tour de France twice and third in another edition.

Across his career he amassed more than fifty professional wins, including general classifications in prestigious races such as Tirreno–Adriatico, the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie, as well as stage victories at the Giro, Tour and Vuelta.

Much of his career was tied to Movistar Team, the outfit with which he claimed most of his successes and to which he returned in recent years after racing with other teams in the international peloton. In his final spell he often took on support roles for other leaders, while maintaining a presence in top-tier competitions.

Even in the most recent seasons he continued to line up at international calendar events and stated his intention to keep competing as long as his condition allowed, while acknowledging that the end of his career was near after more than a decade at the top.

With two Grand Tours, several Tour de France podiums and dozens of stage-race victories, Quintana bids farewell to professional cycling as one of the most prominent Latin American riders of recent decades and one of the most consistent climbers of the contemporary peloton. His career was defined by his regularity in high mountains and his ability to contend for the general classification in the sport’s main tours.