'Like a deaf frog' - Nairo Quintana ignores criticism and targets Giro d'Italia stage wins

Nairo Quintana
Nairo Quintana speaks at a press conference in Bogota this week. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nairo Quintana has confirmed that he will return to the Giro d’Italia next month, ten years on from his overall victory at the corsa rosa. The race will mark Quintana’s first appearance in a Grand Tour since he was disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France after testing positive for Tramadol.

Although the offence was not punishable with a suspension at the time – Tramadol was only added to the WADA banned list on January 1 of this year – Quintana parted company with Arkéa-Samsic shortly afterwards and he was unable to find a team for 2023.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.