Colombia Oro y Paz (st. 1)

Movistar Team leader involved with Dayer into crash with 4km remaining on stage one in Palmira; suffers no significant injuries, inside main peloton at finish.

The fast-paced inaugural stage of the Colombia Oro y Paz -99km, nine-lap circuit around Palmira near Cali- brought the first scare, fortunately without big consequences, for the Movistar Team in their first-ever race as a fully-fledged squad in the country. With 4km remaining, and as the bunch was getting ready for the sprint, a pile-up took both Nairo Quintana down and held up his brother Nairo.

Nairo got back on his feet and Dayer gave his bike to him, so he could get back to the bunch -which he accomplished, closing the group over the line- and not lost any time, since the incident had occurred outside the ‘satefy zone’ marked by the 3km-to-go banner.

Following thorough checkups after the stage, Nairo has only minor blows and bruises to his ankle, leg, hip gluteus. He will not have any problems to take the start on Wednesday’s stage two (183km again in and around Palmira). Fernando Gaviria (QST) will start the day in the leader’s jersey after his victory today.

Declaración de @NairoQuinCo tras caída etapa 1 @ColOroyPaz. Todo en orden! @movistar_team #MovistarTeamEsColombia pic.twitter.com/AJtJK93zhJ

— Prensa Movistar Co (@PtelefonicaCol) February 6, 2018