Nairo Quintana will ride for Arkea-Samsic next season confirms his dad

Colombian rider Nairo Quintana will leave Movistar for French team Arkea-Samsic next season, according to his father.

Quintana has two Grand Tour victories to his name – the 2014 Giro d’Italia and the 2016 Vuelta a Espana, but has struggled to measure up to expectations in recent years.

He was tipped as a future Tour de France winner when he finished second behind Chris Froome in 2013, but that remains his highest finish.

He finished second again in 2015 and third a year later, but only managed 12^th and 10^th in 2017 and 2018.

Quintana remains a rider to be reckoned with, however, delivering a memorable win on Stage 18 of this year’s Tour after attacking on the Col du Galibier and riding solo to the finish.

“Nairo is changing teams, he’s going to Arkea,” Luis Quintana told Bogota’s Blu Radio this week.

In a rabble-rousing proclamation that may have suffered a little in translation, he added: “I’m telling you, Colombians, that Nairo will probably do very well.”

Another of Movistar’s major riders is also rumoured to be leaving. Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, who won this year’s Giro, is said to have signed a three-year deal with Team Ineos.