Nairo Quintana to kick off season in San Luis

Colombian Nairo Quintana will look to defend his Tour San Luis title in 2015, admitting it's important for him to race in South America

Nairo Quintana wins stage sixteen of the 2014 Giro d'Italia

(Image credit: watson)

Nairo Quintana will, once again, start his season at the Tour San Luis in January, an event which he won in 2014.

The Colombian’s win in Argentina set him up perfectly for an assault on the Giro d’Italia, coming away with the pink winner jersey in May.

The 25-year-old will return to South America to defend his crown in San Luis, although with the Tour de France in his sights, Quintana may not be in the same early-season shape as this year.

“It is really important for Argentinian and American supporters [that I race there] because they identify themselves with me. They are proud of me and I feel happy and flattered,” he said.

Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue admitted the rest of Quintana’s race programme is still to be decided, but confirmed his main target will be July’s Tour de France.

“The rest of his programme is not yet confirmed,” says Unzúe, “but after having won the Giro he only rode the Vuelta a Burgos and some stages of La Vuelta and we think that he must start to ride soon, but with caution because the goal is in July.”

San Luis organisers also confirmed that Michal Kwiatkowski, Mark Cavendish, Thomas Voeckler, Filippo Pozatto and Dani Moreno will also race in January.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.