Giro dell'Emilia

Colombian youngster takes Movistar Team's 50th victory as sponsor, his sixth in an outstanding WorldTour debut after great work from Giovanni Visconti (7th) and all the squad at San Luca's finishing circuit

Aged only 22, Nairo Quintana has confirmed himself in the 2012 season as one of the most solid prospects for Latin American cycling. The colombian rider from Movistar Team claimed the victory today at the prestigious Giro dell’Emilia, last big classic of the Italian calendar over 193km including a demanding, finishing circuit with five climbs towards the Madonna di San Luca sanctuary in Bologna. The Spanish squad worked hard to control a dangerous 20-man attempt in the opening stages before Quintana went through the first big selection at the second passage, helped by a huge Giovanni Visconti, who sacrificed himself all the way up for his young team-mate, getting back twice to the front after getting dropped in an effort to control the race.

The Blue duo reached the foot of the final climb into a selected group of eight riders, from which Quintana, Kessiakoff (AST), Pellizotti (AND) and Pozzovivo (COG) jumped. The latter pushed into the group before getting himself alone with Quintana until the final 600 meters, where a strong move from the telephone squad’s rider allowed him reaching the finish solo, with Visconti into a nice 7th spot. Six victories has earned Nairo this season -stage and GC at the Vuelta a Murcia, the Queen mountain stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné, plus another stage and the overall at the Route du Sud-, with Movistar Team, already 50 in its victory account as sponsor, approaches thirty in an unforgettable 2012.

QUOTES / Nairo Quintana: “First of all, I have to thank the team because they were sensational. A break went apart in the beginning of the race with none of us present, but Karpets, Kiry and Bruseghin did a great work and Pardilla was always at my side to take me into good position. At the end, the work by Visconti was worth a victory itself. It was incredible what he did. I was very confident about my chances, it could be my day. In the finale, I saw that Pozzovivo, Pellizotti, Kessiakoff were the strongest rivals. Visconti was sensational, chasing down all the attacks, and at the final climb, Gio went on full throttle and I jumped, but saw all my rivals doing well and chose to stay on Pozzovivo’s wheel because I thought he was the strongest. The last to try it was him, and at the hardest slopes I attacked with every bit of energy left, and that was enough to reach the finish solo. I’m really happy with the season I have completed; it’s not easy to stay in good form all season. I wish all my pro years went this way. I’m really satisfied about the team, because they worked their heart out for me every time I was fit to contest the victories. It’s a special win for me because our DS Yvon Ledanois is leaving and I took 4 of my 6 victories with him. I’m going back to Colombia already on Tuesday, because I’m really excited to get home and rest for a bit before starting off with the next season.”