Nairo Quintana, who hasn’t competed for over a year and has been without a team since his disqualification from the Tour de France, stated on Wednesday that the Colombians in the Vuelta a España will have limited chances of contending for the podium, but he’s confident that Sebastián Molano will win stages.
“It will be difficult for them to be in the podium fight. I’m sure they will win stages,” Nairo Quintana said in Bogotá during the presentation of ‘El Parche de Nairo,’ an establishment located on the outskirts of the Colombian capital.
The Colombians confirmed for the Vuelta, which Nairo won in 2016, are Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Einer Rubio (Movistar Team), Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), Diego Camargo (EF Education – Nippo), and Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Quintana stated that he trusts in the ability of his compatriot Molano to reap benefits in mass sprints.
“I see him in very good shape, he has a very strong team, and I’ve known him since he had baby teeth,” Quintana said, jokingly.
Referring to the current state of Colombian cycling, Quintana asserted today that the work must continue tirelessly because the cyclists who dominate the major races, such as Vingegaard, Pogacar, Evenepoel, and Roglic, are “several points above” the rest of the competitors.
He also assured that there is human potential in Colombia and that what needs to be done is to keep working, and in about two years, the results will be visible.
Quintana highlighted the name of climber Santiago Umba (GW Shimano-Sidermec), stating that he will make an impact shortly and mentioned that the cyclist had injuries that prevented him from progressing.
