Here we are: it's time for Tour of ItalyAmong its protagonists there is one who appears behind the scenes, but who was an important name in the Giro d'Italia, so much so that he won it in 2014. You will have understood that we are talking about Nairobi Quintana.
The Colombian ace, after the controversial doping incidents, returned to the court this winter Eusebio Unzue, to the Movistar So. The team that launched him into the pros a dozen years ago.
Damage and pain
Nairo is no longer, at least for now, the same guy he once was. Perhaps it's because of his age, perhaps because young riders are making progress, or perhaps because of a fall that slowed him down significantly in the spring, so much so that he even missed the Tour of the Basque Country. In fact, a few weeks earlier, At Catalunya, Quintana fell to the ground twice, resulting in a torn tendon in his sternum and a dislocated collarbone.
Damages that have put into doubt the very participation in the Giro d'Italia, especially after having said no to the Tour of the AlpsAlso because, as he himself said, beyond the pain, there was uncertainty. The uncertainty of a particular injury, for which the recovery timeline was unknown.
Quintana, in agreement with the team, flew to Colombia. At least there, even while staying at home, he could take advantage of the altitude effect and was able to receive treatment there. He did so with a doctor from the Colombian Cycling Federation at the headquarters of the “home” football club in Tunja, Boyacá Chicó, which plays in the first division.
Even on mountain bike?
Quintana is no stranger to training alone at home, then coming to Europe, racing, and doing well, but at 34, everything is more complicated, especially after an injury. Furthermore, it seems that in the first few days after the fall he could not pedal on the road bike and used a mountain bike, which allowed him to position his arm more appropriately for his problem. In short, it's not the ideal path.
Nairo is expected in Italy a few days before the big departure from Turin. He himself admitted he suffered a lot. "It was tough," he told Ciclismo a Fondo. I will arrive at the Giro d'Italia not as I wanted or in the best conditions, but I will ride well and surely at the end of the last week I will feel much better that at the beginning» .
We're almost certain he'll continue to improve. Nairo, however, is no ordinary rider. The talent is there and the engine remains powerful, even if it is no longer ready to fight for the general classification.
Two other aspects must also be considered: he didn't compete in 2023, and that matters. And between Covid at the end of February and the crash at Catalunya, he left a mark. just 15 days of racing.
For the stages
So what can Quintana do in the Giro d'Italia? «I will focus on the stages», this is the summary of his speech on the occasion of the presentation of his Granfondo which will be held at the end of June.
Contrary to tradition, Movistar presents a team not only for climbing, but also for sprints, thanks to the presence of another exceptional Colombian, Fernando Gaviria. Then for the mountains there will be Quintana and Rubio, without forgetting Pelayo Sanchez.
«Me and One Rubio aWe are going to the Giro d'Italia to try to win the mountain stages – he said – We'll give it our all to do it. The two times I've come to the Giro, it's gone well. Looking back, it doesn't seem possible that ten years have already passed since I won the Giro. But remembering it today makes me very emotional." Incidentally, and curiously, given that Nairo spoke of improving his condition for the finale, the penultimate stage of the Giro features Monte Grappa, where he won exactly ten years ago.
While it is very recent history that Quintana was spotted, and filmed, during a training session on the climbs in his area. He was pedaling really well, pushing hard and even standing up on the pedals, a sign that the traction with the arm, clavicle and sternum is also in order.
