Nairo Quintana won't be set for a shock switch to Movistar rivals, Team Sky, says team boss Eusebio Unzue, after it was alleged that he was contemplating his future at the Spanish team.
>>> WorldTour transfer rumours: Aru deciding between Astana and UAE, Contador set to stay at Trek
As reported by Colombian news outlet, RCN Radio, Quintana is eyeing up a move to either Team Sky or Astana after a tough year that has seen him underperform in the Giro d'Italia and now the Tour de France.
"Nairo is with two folders on his desk, an Astana folder and another on Sky. He is studying those two themes that are heating up, because the environment in the Movistar is quite complex" the sports program reported.
The news of the rider's departure from Movistar won't come as a surprise after his family publicly came out against the idea to ride both the Giro and the Tour.
"Colombians are protesting because of what they (Movistar) are asking Nairo to do," Luis Quintana, his father, told Colombian outlet Radio Caracol.
"He shouldn't have ridden the Giro if they were taking him to the Tour."
However, Movistar manager, Eusebio Unzue was quick to quash rumours. "It's not true that Nairo is leaving the team. His contract ends in 2019. He's a big champion but he's also human," he told reporters at the Tour de France.
The Colombian's performance at this year's Tour de France has been subject to criticism as he sits 6-16 down on the yellow jersey. Criticism that will sting after a losing out on the Giro d'Italia crown despite having led the race on the last day.
The Tour continues today as rider's take on stage 17 from La Mure to Serre-Chevalier.
-
-
'Deafening' Basque fans and tactical precision as Simon Carr key to EF's Clásica San Sebastián win
The Brit dropped Mikel Landa to forge clear before team-mate Neilson Powless finished off the job and took the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
'I was watching the map on my Garmin, the others were too focused on the race situation': Powless on San Sebastián win
The American avoided a late crash and showed a strong sprint finish to pip Matej Mohorič to the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
Egan Bernal and Adam Yates lead super-strong Ineos Grenadiers team for Clásica San Sebastián 2021
The Giro d'Italia winner returns to racing for the first time since taking pink in spring
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Ineos Grenadiers end partnership with Castelli in favour of new clothing sponsor
After five successful seasons, the British racing outfit is now parting ways with its Italian clothing partner
By Stefan Abram •
-
Early GC time gaps don't make much difference to eventual Tour de France podium, argues Ineos' Michał Kwiatkowski
The Polish super domestique says the British team were prepared to spend more energy early to keep GC riders safe, but even that can prove insufficient at the Tour de France
By Jonny Long •
-
Luke Rowe explains why he was handed fine on Tour de France stage three
The British rider was fined by commissaries for 'assault, intimidation, insults, threats, improper conduct'
By Cycling Weekly •
-
'This won't be my last season': Alejandro Valverde plans to continue racing next year aged 42
Movistar's evergreen star man does not want to quit racing after the Olympics
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Tom Pidcock returns to road racing at Italian one-day race
The British rider is back racing just three weeks after breaking his collarbone
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Geraint Thomas: 'You need to be able to do everything well to win the Tour, it's not just about climbing'
The Brit gives his preview of the upcoming French Grand Tour where he will be vying for the yellow jersey
By Jonny Long •
-
Ineos announce their full Tour de France 2021 squad
Here is the eight-man team the British outfit will be taking to the French Grand Tour
By Jonny Long •
