Quintana confirms retirement with Vuelta as his last dance
Nairo Quintana will bring his professional career to an end at the close of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old Colombian confirmed the decision ahead of the Volta a Catalunya, ending months of speculation about his future. His farewell will stretch across the year, with the Vuelta a España set to be his final race.
Quintana spoke on a press conference with clarity about what comes next. “I want to keep building. Start businesses and support athletes. Give something back to the people. I want more children to dream like I dreamed,” he said. “This journey continues with new dreams. It doesn’t end here, it’s just beginning.”
His career spans nearly two decades and includes victories in two Grand Tours. Quintana won the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and the Vuelta a España in 2016, establishing himself as one of the defining climbers of his generation. He twice finished second in the Tour de France and stood on the podium again in 2016, but the yellow jersey remained just out of reach.
Quintana lined up in 20 Grand Tours and reached the finish in 19 of them. He placed in the top ten 13 times, stood on the podium six times and claimed eight stage wins, numbers that reflect his consistency at the highest level.
From his early breakthrough with Movistar, Quintana, also known by his nickname “Nairoman,” quickly built a reputation in the mountains. His performance in the 2013 Tour, where he challenged Chris Froome deep into the race and claimed both the young rider and mountains classifications, marked his arrival at the very top level.
Beyond the Grand Tours, his palmarès includes overall victories in races such as Tirreno-Adriatico, the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie. In total, he has claimed 51 professional wins, though his last victories date back to 2022.
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The closing phase of his career has been far less straightforward. In 2022, he crossed the line sixth in the Tour de France, only for that result to be stripped after a positive test for tramadol, which was prohibited under UCI rules at the time. His appeal did not succeed, and he subsequently spent an extended period without a contract.
A return to Movistar in 2024 offered him a second chapter, though no longer as a leader in the same sense. There were still occasional flashes, but he was unable to deliver standout results.
Now, the focus turns to his final months in the sport. Rather than a quiet exit, Quintana intends to approach the season as a farewell tour of sorts. “Everything I do this year will be that big celebration and final dance in every race,” he said.
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