Nairo Quintana asks for patience from fans as race return looms

Nairo Quintana announces his team for 2024
Nairo Quintana announces his team for 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nairo Quintana has struck a resolutely upbeat note about his imminent return to racing after a hiatus of over 12 months following his positive test for tramadol and subsequent disqualification from the 2022 Tour de France.

After the news of the tramadol positive broke shortly before he was due to take part in the 2022 Vuelta a España, Quintana parted ways with Arkéa-Samsic, his squad at the time.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.