Nairo Quintana out of O Gran Camiño after catching COVID-19

Nairo Quintana was because of be a part of his Movistar teammates on the O Gran Camiño and mark his return to the European peloton after a yr spent in exile following his disqualification from the 2022 Tour de France. However his journey to Spain has been postponed after Quintana examined optimistic 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 ultimate classification regardless of Quintana heading into the race with confidence in his kind.

“For the previous few days, I had been feeling fairly unhealthy. [I thought] I had caught the flu. After I returned dwelling, I took the COVID check and it got here again optimistic. 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 general.

“Within the night, after the stage completed, he wasn’t nicely and he had some fever, however he is capable of begin right now, and he’ll journey to assist Ivan Sósa,” Lastras mentioned on the time.

Quintana will stay sidelined in Colombia and proceed to relaxation at dwelling forward of his subsequent goal, the Volta a Catalunya in March.

“Nairo places loads of stress on himself racing right here, however I feel the nice champions have to put stress on themselves,” Lastras mentioned at Tour Colombia. “They need to 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 yr, the race is 4 levels lengthy from February 22-25 and includes 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.