La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Nairo Quintana wants to compete in the Giro d’Italia again this year.
Arkéa-Samsic’s climber, who is still recovering from a knee injury, last rode the Italian tour in 2017. His team still has to get a wildcard.
Quintana has only raced the Giro d’Italia twice in the past, but was very successful in the first Grand Tour of the season. In 2014 he made his Giro debut and won overall, ahead of Rigoberto Urán and Fabio Aru.
Three years later he took another shot at the final victory. Quintana rode in the pink jersey for some days and was leader in the all-deciding final time trial to Milan, but the Colombian was beaten by Tom Dumoulin and finished second at 31 seconds.
It is unclear when Quintana will be able to race again, but the Arkéa-Samsic leader is back on the bike two months after his knee surgery. Arkéa-Samsic manager Emmanuel Hubert is counting on a comeback from Quintana at the end of February.
The preliminary investigation into possible doping use by the brothers Nairo and Dayer Quintana is still ongoing. The Quintana brothers, whom the French authorities are targeting, are free to race pending further investigation. Authorities are currently not releasing anything about the case.
