Nairo Quintana was resulting from be part of his Movistar teammates on the O Gran Camiño and mark his return to the European peloton after a 12 months spent in exile following his disqualification from the 2022 Tour de France. However his journey to Spain has been postponed after Quintana examined constructive for COVID-19 whereas racing Tour Colombia final week.
Movistar posted a video assertion from Quintana on Instagram, and the visibly congested rider mentioned the virus had hit him onerous.
“I’ve not been capable of exit to coach. I completed the Colombia Tour very sick,” Quintana mentioned.
His sickness defined a flat efficiency on the Alto del Vino and a twenty first place within the last classification regardless of Quintana heading into the race with confidence in his kind.
“For the previous few days, I had been feeling fairly dangerous. [I thought] I had caught the flu. Once I returned residence, I took the COVID check and it got here again constructive. It hit me onerous, I’ve had many signs.”
At Tour Colombia, Movistar sports activities director Pablo Lastras described Quintana’s collapse on the Alto del Vino as ‘nothing alarming’.
“He had the flu, that is what occurred, nothing extra. It is nothing to fret about. He felt a bit blocked from being at his full form however it’s nothing alarming, nothing worrying.”
He mentioned Quintana had been affected by a fever however he began the ultimate stage to work for his teammate, Ivan Sósa, who would finish with seventh total.
“Within the night, after the stage completed, he wasn’t properly and he had some fever, however he is capable of begin in the present day, and he’ll experience to assist Ivan Sósa,” Lastras mentioned on the time.
Quintana will stay sidelined in Colombia and proceed to relaxation at residence forward of his subsequent goal, the Volta a Catalunya in March.
“Nairo places loads of stress on himself racing right here, however I believe the nice champions must put stress on themselves,” Lastras mentioned at Tour Colombia. “They should know the best way to handle it and Nairo is aware of how to try this as a result of he is a winner.”
O Gran Camiño should go on with out the Colombian. In its third 12 months, the race is 4 levels lengthy from February 22-25 and incorporates a 14.8km opening time trial and three mountainous levels.
Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) will make his season debut on the race.
🏥🦅🇨🇴 Data @NairoQuinCo / @ograncamino_igt En los últimos días del #TourColombia2024, Nairo vio mermado su estado de salud, y posteriores pruebas han confirmado un proceso vírico que impedirá al boyacense estar en Galicia.El debut de Nairo en Europa será comunicado pronto. pic.twitter.com/Fvr8Z2CJG5February 15, 2024
