Yesterday, Movistar’s Nairo Quintana finished 4th in the Colombian national championship road race, which was won by Quintana’s team mate Winner Anacona. Before the race, Quintana spoke about his preparations for his biggest objective of the year, the Tour de France.

The Movistar team leader believes he has all the necessary tools to fight for the overall victory in Paris once again after finishing second in 2013 and 2015 and winning the Giro d'Italia in 2014.

“We have strengthened the team, we have more experience, I have three-time podium finishes to my name in Grand Tours. In addition, I finished fourth in the Vuelta a España, and I agree with my team manager [Eusebio Unzue] that we're ready to win the Tour. If luck is with us, we will be contesting the yellow jersey again and we’ll eager to win, "he said yesterday at the press conference according to Spanish website Biciciclismo.com.

Although winning the Tour is Quintana’s primary objective of the season, he still hopes to perform well at both the Olympics and the Vuelta, hoping that his good form from the Tour will translate into top performances in Rio and in Spain.

“The Tour undoubtedly has top priority,” Quintana explained. “We are preparing to get to one hundred percent and reach that yellow dream. If we go well, it will make a good Olympic and good Vuelta Spain,” he said. “I dreamed of getting the opportunity to do great things. When I was 20 years old I told my team mates 'I want to get to the Tour and win stages'. Some laughed me in the face. I didn’t care because it was my dream and now we’re getting ready to fulfil it,” Quintana elaborated.

The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August will be the second focal point of the season for Quintana. The Movistar climbing specialist will undoubtedly be the team captain of the Colombian national team and he gave his opinion about the selection. “Normally, a team selects riders who are fit and might be potential winners, but I think we have to make a choice and opt for riders who can help and are prepared to do. In the past we’ve selected riders who would like to win but none who would like to help,” Quintana said.

Last year, Quintana won the Tirreno-Adriatico but so far Movistar hasn’t made any official announcement of his participation in this year’s race. Should he choose to defend his title from March 9-15, he will be accompanied by Alejandro Valverde among others and face stiff competition from Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Mikel Landa (SKY) and Esteban Chaves. Such a calibre of opposition, though, may be just what Quintana needs in preparation for his heavy racing schedule during the summer.