Nairo Quintana has set his sights on both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España in 2025, adding these Grand Tours to his calendar as key objectives. The Colombian cyclist, now embarking on his second season back with Movistar, will turn 35 in February. Despite his age, he remains optimistic about the future, with plans for a prominent role at the Giro in May and a supportive role for Enric Mas at the Vuelta.
During his return to top-level racing in 2024, Quintana delivered a standout performance with a second-place finish on stage 15 of the Giro at Livigno. Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS, he shared his positive outlook: “We have been in Valencia adding two very good weeks of training, and I have seen that the young people of the team are quite strong,” he noted. “As for me, the sensations have been good, with great numbers and a desire to continue enjoying the competition.”
His racing schedule will primarily focus on Spain, with March’s Tirreno-Adriatico being his sole venture outside Iberia in the early months. “I will start with the Challenge de Mallorca. I will also do the Clásica Almería, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Volta a Catalunya,” Quintana explained. “I will try to prepare for the Giro d’Italia in the best possible way because it is one of my objectives.”
Following the winter departures of standout riders like Oier Lazkano and Alex Aranburu, Movistar’s hopes in 2025 hinge largely on Mas’s performance in stage races. However, the team has bolstered its ranks with the addition of promising talent, such as 23-year-old Pablo Castrillo, a double Vuelta stage winner joining from Kern Pharma. Alongside Giro stage winner Pelayo Sánchez and U23 world time trial champion Iván Romeo, Castrillo’s inclusion underlines the team’s commitment to nurturing a robust young core.
Quintana emphasised the need to give Castrillo time and freedom as he steps up to the WorldTour, potentially debuting at the 2025 Tour de France. “We have signings that give strength to the team and with the arrival of Pablo I ask for calm, that we do not smother him. He himself will take the appropriate steps and we will surely see him giving some surprises in the Tour,” he stated.
Additionally, Quintana praised fellow Colombian Diego Pescador, a 20-year-old who finished seventh at this year’s Tour de l’Avenir and is another new addition to the Movistar roster. “He has chosen to come to Movistar and I think he will have great opportunities to start growing in different races that are suitable for him,” Quintana remarked. “He has that ability. I am sure he is one of the Colombians who will continue to carry on that legacy of Latin American cyclists.”
Main photo credit: Getty
