Nairo Quintana confirms attempt at Giro/Tour double
Colombian attempting to be the first man to win both races in 19 years

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.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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 20 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
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Emily Ehrlich and Artem Shmidt win US national TT titles
Ehrlich beats Faulkner while neo pro Schmidt rides to debut elite national championship win
-
Richard Carapaz soars to solo victory on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia
Blistering attack on the final climb propels the EF Education rider to the win, with Isaac De Toro holding on to pink
-
Cat Ferguson to make Tour of Britain Women debut next month
Double junior world champion expected to lead Movistar on home roads at four-day race
-
Entire Movistar team fined after start ramp chaos at Vuelta Femenina
Visma-Lease a Bike file official complaint with the UCI following team time trial delays
-
'It's a bit scary' - WorldTour's youngest rider to pair schoolwork with racing
A-level student Carys Lloyd is one of Movistar's latest recruits
-
British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
-
Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April