Nairo Quintana announced that he is no longer with Arkéa Samsic. The runner reported that, after three years, he will not continue in the French squad. “I will not continue with the Arkéa Samsic team as we announced last August 16. Let’s keep pedaling forward and then discuss what’s in my future. I want to continue showing the rider that I am, what I am made of and what I can do”.
The boyacense thanked what he experienced in the Emmanuel Hubert team, “thank the team in which we were able to have many races, some that we won others that we lost, we had ups and downs, but I was able to give all my experience and learning to a great team. I had the opportunity to get the points to take the team to the World Tour when they hired me and hopefully next year the team will be racing in the World Tour peloton,” he said.
Nairo was sanctioned by the UCI for consumption of tramadol. In two tests done at different stages, the result was positive for the substance. For this reason, Nairo withdrew from his participation in the Vuelta a España and began his defense with the appeal at the TAS.
“As you know, I have presented my defense before the TAS, we continue working with my group of lawyers and I am confident because I am honorable, honest, I have not done anything wrong, nothing illegal and that is why I want to defend myself and I have reached this point. I want to give good news especially to my country and I want to thank you for all the support”.
The World Cup in Australia and the end of the season
Nairo also spoke about what it meant for him to participate in the World Cup in Australia, “I am happy to have been able to represent my country in the World Cup, to have a great group of runners all fighting for the same goal. Although what we wanted did not come out, we showed a feeling of union and brotherhood for all Colombians.”
And he confirmed that he will not be in any competition at the end of the season“Due to health issues I have had to miss these last races and I am ending my season this year, but I hope you do not forget that we still have special events on October 23 in San Luis Potosí, stay tuned because I will go with a friend and the other in the Gran Fondo de Nairo in Antioquia where we have prepared special routes for everyone and to be able to shoot together2.
Nairo Quintana and his time at Arkéa
Nairo Quintana’s time at Arkéa-Samic lasted three seasons, arriving in 2020 – the year the COVID-19 pandemic began – and ending last July with the end of the 2022 Tour de France. He was signed after his successful cycle with the Movistar Team where he came to be considered one of the two best cyclists in the world along with Christopher Froome.
In these almost three years in the French team, Nairo won 5 titles: Tour La Provence (2020 and 2022), Tour of the Maritime Alps and the Var (2020 and 2022) and the Vuelta a Asturias (2021). Regarding stage wins, there were 6, the most important being the one he achieved in Paris-Nice in 2020.
Perhaps the Colombian’s best achievement in the Arkéa was sixth place in this year’s Tour, but that was later taken away due to the use of Tramadol, since it violates the UCI medical regulations. Quintana appealed the decision before the TAS and is awaiting the court’s resolution. The broker states that he has never used that drug.