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Follow us on GoogleNairo Quintana received a wonderful send-off on Saturday at the Giro dell'Emilia. The 36-year-old Colombian from Movistar rode his final race in Italy and will now hang up his bike. The footage speaks for itself, though one rider didn't seem interested in being treated like a hero.
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On Saturday, before the start of the Giro dell'Emilia, Quintana was honored by nearly the entire peloton in a way we've come to recognize. The climber was allowed to make his way through a line of riders, who were all lined up in a row and spinning their front wheels.
The crowd was impressively long, and Quintana’s smile was impressively wide. Yet there was one rider who stood out because he wasn’t taking part in the festivities. All we can see is that he’s a Tudor rider, who stood outside the crowd with his hands clasped, waiting for it to be over.
Didn't he feel like it? Was he late and there was no room left? Doesn't he like Quintana that much? The rider can't be identified in the footage, but it did seem a bit odd on Saturday given how otherwise complete the picture was.
Continue reading below the video
Quintana won 53 times and in all the Grand Tours
Haunting images of a cyclist who won so many races throughout his career. Quintana added 53 victories to his record, including overall wins in the Giro d'Italia (2014), the Vuelta a España (2016), and many major WorldTour stage races.
Quintana has won multiple stages in all three Grand Tours and has also stood on the podium several times in the Tour de France. In recent years, we’ve rarely seen the great Quintana win again, though he did manage to pull it off this year with stage and overall victories in the Vuelta a Asturias.
"Thank you all for your support over the years," Quintana wrote in a farewell video from Movistar.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Un poco corto en la parte técnica de la bici de McNulty, no? Colnago nero con detalles arcoíris suena brutal — queremos más fotos, per favore.pedalpowe2902-10-2026
- - Demi finally gets her stripes! Team Oranje tactics on point again — recon, lead-out, and that patient regroup. Textbook. Chapeau.sprocketspiny02-10-2026
- - Wait, does the world champ jersey apply to all disciplines or just road race? Can McNulty wear it in a TT too, or is that only if he won the TT worlds?davidm02-10-2026
- - Brilliant coverage. The early flight back to beat jet lag is elite-level thinking. Those marginal gains matter before a punchy Euros course.samanthak02-10-2026
- - Not sure the “surprised everyone” line about McNulty is fair. He’s been knocking on the door all season in one-day races and TTs. Emilia in rainbows is going to slap.patriciaw02-10-2026
- - Love seeing the rainbow bands back on Slovenian roads. Demi looks sharp in that kit. Hope she gets a full custom bike soon, not just a tiny stripe under the seatpost. Come on, give the champ a proper paint job!cadencekingm02-10-2026
- - Quick one: why can’t McNulty wear the rainbow at Euros? Is it only for world champs from Europe or something about national teams vs trade teams?lindae02-10-2026
- - That Dutch masterclass was something else. Vollering timed that second move perfectly after the first dig didn’t stick. Proper teamwork — Wiebes and the crew deserve as much credit as Demi.julien02-10-2026
- - Boonen’s line about trusting teammates is gold. World’s is chess, not crit. Belgium tried to cover every scenario and covered none. Harsh lesson, but needed before next year.samanthak02-10-2026
- - Great read, but the piece leans a bit too harsh on Wout for me. He wasn’t at leader-level form, true, yet the team didn’t set up a plan B well enough. Segaert the bright spot, agreed.julien02-10-2026
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