Official: Nairo Quintana announced his retirement from professional cycling

The Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana at 36 years old at a press conference in Barcelona before the start of the Tour of Catalonia professional cycling announced his retirement. Among the great feats of the boyacense, we remember, among others, his titles in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, in addition to his three podiums in the Tour de France.

Nairo will retire at the end of this season and it is expected that his last major participation will be in La Vuelta a España, in which he was able to claim champion in 2016.

The retirement

“This is an important event for me, my family, my country, my people and everyone who has always been by my side. I have come to tell you that it is the last season as a professional cyclist, it is not my last race, so every race I do during this year will be that great party and the last dance in each of the competitions and I do it this way because I want to enjoy with the fans, who have been in such beautiful moments of my professional career throughout the 17 years.”

pure nostalgia

“A child who did not have everything, but had something stronger, the desire to get ahead. I remember those first roads, the cold in the mornings, the long roads and a bicycle that little by little became my life companion. That’s how it all began, step by step without making noise, I was building a path in Colombia with equipment that gave me the opportunity to learn, to fall and get up, there I understood that this was not just a sport, but a way of life.”

The beginnings

“In 2012, an opportunity came that changed everything. Movistar Team trusted me. It was not just a signing, but the beginning of a dream bigger than what I once imagined. From there, came moments that marked my life and that of an entire country, victories that were not just mine, but those of an entire continent and the entire Colombia.”

Goals, dreams

“I want more children to dream like I dreamed. This path continues, with the same passion and commitment, but with new dreams because this does not end here, this is just beginning. Thank you for accompanying me every kilometer and thank you for believing. We continue forward with the same heart.”

Why the decision to retire?

“The years come, the family grows and it is at this moment my highest priority. I want to give time to them. We have already shone, representing a country and a region, giving glories and joys. I want to transfer knowledge to young people. I want to continue promoting what cycling has also given me (…) I feel calm, happy, being able to have the opportunity to know how to close a cycle fills you with tranquility.”

Who did you like to compete with the most and who did you like to share the most as a team?

“I have always said that Alberto Contador was a very strong rival, I admired him a lot for his skills and strategy, he always looked for every moment to be able to defeat his rivals and that made me admire him. He was very tough and I remember in a Tour of Catalonia, with several attacks, of the biggest wars we had. He was a good rival. Then there is Alejandro Valverde, who was my partner and seeing his sporting career was wonderful. When I started, he was my idol and sharing with him was an illusion. Now, I can’t stop aside the battles with SKY and Chris Froome. The problem with so much technology today is that what happened three days ago is forgotten.