Colombian Nairo Quintana continues to cement his status as the next cycling superstar after winning the Giro D'Italia on Sunday in Trieste, Italy, becoming the first Latin American to win the race.
Quintana, a climbing specialist from the Movistar team, finished with a comfortable three-minute, seven-second lead against his compatriot Rigoberto Uran to bag his first of what could be many Grand Tour victories.
Italy's Fabio Aru ended up third, finishing 4:04 slower than Quintana.
The 24-year-old Colombian had a slow start in the first two weeks as he was overshadowed by Uran and Australia's Cadel Evans, but he started to dominate the field in the final week of the race.
Quintana took the pink jersey from his fellow Colombian Uran after winning the 16th leg of the race, which was followed by a remarkable win in 19th leg mountain trial.
"I can finally say I've won the Giro," Quintana said via ESPN. "I have to thank my teammates and my family here supporting me."
With the win, Quintana, who started making noise in the cycling circuit when he surprisingly finished second in last year's Tour De France, also became the Colombian to win the Giro, and also the second from his country to win a Grand Tour.
Colombia president Juan Manuel Santos, who was seen wearing pink shirt during the final stage of the race, called Quintana to personally congratulate him. Santos called Quintana and Uran's one-two finish as a historic day for their country.
Quintana To Target Tour De France's Yellow Jersey
And after his emphatic Giro D'Italia victory in just his third Grand Tour appearance, Quintana is setting his sights on winning the Tour De France, wherein he ended up as runner up to Chris Froome last year.
Quintana will not participate in this year's Tour after Movistar decided to enter veteran Spaniard Alejandro Valverde in the race, but team manager Eusebio Unzue confirmed that the Colombian cycling star will participate next year.
"Next year we will bring Nairo to the Tour," Eusebio said. "From what we have seen so far, the next step is naturally the yellow jersey. We believe Nairo can win the Tour."Colombian Nairo Quintana continues to cement his status as the next cycling superstar after winning the Giro D'Italia on Sunday in Trieste, Italy, becoming the first Latin American to win the race.
Quintana, a climbing specialist from the Movistar team, finished with a comfortable three-minute, seven-second lead against his compatriot Rigoberto Uran to bag his first of what could be many Grand Tour victories.
Italy's Fabio Aru ended up third, finishing 4:04 slower than Quintana.
The 24-year-old Colombian had a slow start in the first two weeks as he was overshadowed by Uran and Australia's Cadel Evans, but he started to dominate the field in the final week of the race.
Quintana took the pink jersey from his fellow Colombian Uran after winning the 16th leg of the race, which was followed by a remarkable win in 19th leg mountain trial.
"I can finally say I've won the Giro," Quintana said via ESPN. "I have to thank my teammates and my family here supporting me."
With the win, Quintana, who started making noise in the cycling circuit when he surprisingly finished second in last year's Tour De France, also became the Colombian to win the Giro, and also the second from his country to win a Grand Tour.
Colombia president Juan Manuel Santos, who was seen wearing pink shirt during the final stage of the race, called Quintana to personally congratulate him. Santos called Quintana and Uran's one-two finish as a historic day for their country.
Quintana To Target Tour De France's Yellow Jersey
And after his emphatic Giro D'Italia victory in just his third Grand Tour appearance, Quintana is setting his sights on winning the Tour De France, wherein he ended up as runner up to Chris Froome last year.
Quintana will not participate in this year's Tour after Movistar decided to enter veteran Spaniard Alejandro Valverde in the race, but team manager Eusebio Unzue confirmed that the Colombian cycling star will participate next year.
"Next year we will bring Nairo to the Tour," Eusebio said. "From what we have seen so far, the next step is naturally the yellow jersey. We believe Nairo can win the Tour."
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