Nairo Quintana is determined to return to top races, considering it a big win for himself, Colombia, and Latin America.

What happened?

The Colombian cyclist faced an uphill battle to find a squad after testing positive for tramadol during the Tour de France last year.

Why it matters for Nairo Quintana

Quintana has been training in Andorra and dealing with family business affairs, and he recently stated that he has not broken any rules.

He said, "the day I put a race number on my back again in big events, it will be a great victory for myself, Colombia and all of Latin America."

What comes next?

Quintana has been in Europe for several weeks, taking part in the Colombian Nationals as a privateer, and he is keen to move on from the Tour de France problems.
He told ESPN that "things remain unchanged since last year, when it all went a bit awry," but he is still convinced that he can do something and the numbers from his training back him up.

The Movement for Credible Cycling's ban on its team members signing riders who test positive for tramadol has arguably lengthened the odds on Quintana finding a team.
However, Quintana insists that there is nothing to stop teams from signing him, saying "I've been talking to various different people, and right now any team can contract me without any problem."
He also stated that some teams already have full rosters, which makes things more complicated.

Tramadol is an opiate pain medication that has been banned for in-competition use by the UCI since March 2019.
The MPCC has requested a ban on the drug as far back as 2013 following reports of widespread usage in the peloton.

Arkéa-Samsic, Quintana's former team, is a member of the MPCC and was praised earlier this year by the organisation for ending his contract.
The organisation stated that no MPCC member team subsequently decided to hire the Colombian rider, and this attitude seems to have become indispensable for everyone.

Nine of the 19 men's WorldTour teams are members of the MPCC, including AG2R Citroën, Alpecin-Deceuninck, and Bora-Hansgrohe.
Quintana is determined to find a new team and return to top races, and he believes that his potential return will be a big victory for Latin America.

He has denied taking tramadol and insists that he has not done anything wrong, saying "I'm holding my head high."
Quintana is keen to put the past behind him and focus on his future, saying "I'm at a good level, we're still moving forwards, with the hope of having a race number again for the top events in the sport."
The Colombian cyclist is determined to succeed and make a comeback, and his potential return to top races will be closely watched by fans and teams alike.

Quintana's story is one of determination and perseverance, and his potential return to top races will be a significant event in the world of road cycling.
He has been training hard and is confident that he can still compete at the highest level, and his fans will be hoping that he can find a new team and achieve his goals.

The future is uncertain for Quintana, but one thing is clear: he is determined to succeed and make a comeback, and his potential return to top races will be a big win for himself, Colombia, and Latin America.