Take2 weeks ago
Quintana's farewell goes from Vuelta plan to a one-day classic
Movistar confirmed Nairo Quintana will retire at the Giro dell'Emilia on October 3, 2026, the same race he won 14 years earlier as a 22-year-old rookie. A 16-year career built on three Grand Tour podiums and a Giro and Vuelta title ends not on a three-week stage but on a one-day Italian classic. Movistar had left him out of this year's Vuelta a España roster, the race originally meant to close his career.
What this means
The race that launched Quintana's career now closes it, after the Grand Tour farewell Movistar had planned did not happen.
The sendoff Movistar had planned fell through: Quintana was initially expected to retire at the Vuelta a España in 2026, but the team left him out of the three-week race entirely. Instead his last race is the one-day Giro dell'Emilia, where he attacked on the San Luca climb and beat Fredrik Kessiakoff by three seconds as a 22-year-old WorldTour rookie, his first victory in Italy. He will lead Movistar there alongside fellow Colombian Einer Rubio. Quintana announced the retirement itself back in March, at a press conference ahead of the Volta a Catalunya. «It is all over. And I am going home to my family,» he said then.
Sources
14 years after winning Giro dell'Emilia, Nairo Quintana to call time on racing career at Italian Classic on October 3Nairo Quintana says goodbye and retires - Lente DesportivaQuintana caps successful season with Giro dell'Emilia winNairo Quintana'It is all over' - Grand Tour champion and Tour de France podium finisher Nairo Quintana announces retirement
Analysed 5 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work