Nairo Quintana has confirmed that he will ride both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in 2017, attempting to become the first man to win both races in the same year since Marco Pantani in 1998.
Movistar team manager Eusebio Unzué said in December that there was a chance that his start rider could attempt to win both the Giro and the Tour, something that the team has now confirmed
That will mean that Quintana will not return to the Vuelta a España to attempt to successfully defend his title from 2016.
Quintana has two Grand Tour wins to his name: last year's Vuelta, and the 2014 Giro d'Italia, the only time he has ridden in the Italian Grand Tour.
Watch: Essential guide to the Giro d'Italia
After winning the Giro in 2014, Quintana did not race in the Tour de France two months later, instead choosing to give himself a longer rest before tackling the Vuelta (where he finished fourth) in late August.
The Giro d'Italia start list is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years, with Quintana set to be joined on the start line in Sardinia by the likes of Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Aru, Tejay van Garderen, Stefan Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, and Geraint Thomas.
This year will be the 100th edition of the race, with a balanced route including more time trialling than in previous years.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Grab an Garmin Edge 530 discount while you still can - plus more in Amazon UK's Spring Sale
We've picked out a small - but perfectly formed - selection of the best Amazon deals right now
-
'It's the ultimate drop bar bike' - Mosaic Cycles introduces new RT-1 model
Mosaic, the builders of custom titanium dream bikes, today unveiled a "sleeker, more capable" version of its flagship road racer, the RT-1
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
Where next for Nairo Quintana? Colombian claims he'll still be at WorldTour races
Bahrain-Victorious say no, Movistar are full, Astana-Qazaqstan and AG2R-Citroën have already denied interest
-
Nairo Quintana’s Tour de France tramadol disqualification upheld
CAS uphold the UCI decision to disqualify the Colombian after painkiller detected in blood tests
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
-
Silvia Persico takes Ceratizit Challenge stage victory after a tense aggressive final
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer comes close to pulling off a repeat of her Tokyo triumph with a 158km solo break
