Nairo Quintana has introduced his shock departure from Arkéa-Samsic after three seasons, regardless of having signed a contract extension with the French squad again in August.
The Colombian had signed up with the group to 2025 however introduced in a social media video on Friday that he can be using elsewhere subsequent season.
“I wish to announce that I will not proceed with Arkéa-Samsic subsequent season as we had introduced on August 16,” Quintana stated on Instagram. “I am going to proceed biking and shortly I am going to remark about my future. I wish to proceed displaying the rider that I’m, what I am manufactured from, and what I can do.”
Quintana is at the moment within the midst of a battle with the UCI over his disqualification from the Tour de France as a consequence of two optimistic tramadol exams. The 32-year-old had completed sixth within the race – his finest consequence since 2016 and his group’s finest ever – however was stripped of his consequence a day after his contract extension was introduced in August.
He subsequently skipped the Vuelta a España to concentrate on his defence and has taken his case to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Tramadol is banned by the UCI although is authorized in different sports activities which might be signatories to the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA), although the organisation is ready to place in place a ban on the opiate painkiller from 2024.
“I’ve introduced my defence earlier than CAS,” Quintana stated. “We proceed to work with my group of attorneys and I am assured as a result of I’m honorable and sincere.
“I have never carried out something flawed or unlawful and that’s the reason I wish to defend myself. I wish to give excellent news, particularly to my nation, and I wish to thanks for all of the assist.”
Quintana additionally thanked Arkéa-Samsic for his time on the group and stated that he had carried out what he went there to do – ship WorldTour racing to the squad. They’re set for promotion to biking’s prime division subsequent season together with Alpecin-Deceuninck, at the moment ranked among the many prime 18 groups on the earth.
Quintana has performed a significant half in serving to to the group obtain this purpose, having racked up two GC wins apiece on the Tour de Haut Var and Tour de la Provence, a victory on the Vuelta Asturias, and a mountain stage win on the 2020 Paris-Good, amongst different main outcomes.
“I wish to thank the group for these three seasons the place we have been capable of have many races. We gained some and misplaced some,” he stated. “I used to be capable of ship all my expertise to an amazing group.
“I used to be capable of get the factors to take the group to the WorldTour, fulfilling what was promised once they employed me.”
He confirmed that he would not be racing for the rest of the 2022 season as a consequence of well being points, having solely raced the highway race on the UCI Highway World Championships because the Tour.
“Resulting from well being points, I’ll miss the final races of the yr so I am ending my 2022 season,” he concluded.
Arkéa-Samsic affirm Quintana’s departure
Arkéa-Samsic did not instantly reply to Quintana’s assertion. As a member of the Motion for Clear Biking (MPCC), an organisation which has lengthy campaigned in opposition to using tramadol, the group can be in an ungainly place if Quintana’s sanction was to be confirmed by CAS.
On Saturday morning, the group put out an announcement confirming that Quintana can be leaving on the finish of the season.
“Nairo Quintana introduced the top of his collaboration with the Arkéa-Samsic group which started in 2020,” the assertion learn.
“The Arkéa-Samsic group confirms that Nairo Quintana’s contract with the group is not going to be renewed in 2023. The Breton group is not going to remark additional on the matter.”
It isn’t but clear the place Quintana may land for the 2023 season, with the switch window having been open for 2 months already and most groups having finalised their plans and budgets for subsequent yr.
Arkéa-Samsic are additionally left in a tricky spot, with most big-name riders already signed up elsewhere for 2023 and their star rider now departing.
