Following a highly successful summer and a period of rest in his native Colombia, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had returned to Europe. The Tour de France runner-up has set his sights on the world championships and will finish his season with the Tour of Lombardy.

Nairo Quintana has set the cycling world on fire this season with a stage win in the Volta a Catalunya, stage win an overall victory in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, 2nd place, stage win, white and polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France and stage win and overall victory in the Vuelta a Burgos. Following the latter race, he returned to Colombia to rest ahead of the autumn races.

Yesterday he returned to Europe and will return to competition on Sunday in the Tour of Britain. The tiny Colombian plans to be a key protagonist in the world championships which is held on an unusually hilly course in Florence.

 "The idea is to make a good performance at the world championships," he told El Colombiano. "It is a route that favours the Colombian team and we can make a good showing,"

Colombia has had an outstanding season and Quintana is set to combine forces with the likes of Rigoberto Uran, Sergio Henao, Carlos Betancur, Darwin Atapuma and Fabio Duarte in what appears to be one of the strongest teams of the race. The final line-up hasn't been announced yet but Quintana will have a guaranteed spot.

The Movistar rider feels well-prepared.

"I'm fine, I could train on the roads of Boyacá, I could get some rest after the Tour and I get back up to race speed at the Tour of Britain," he added. "My goal will be to have a good showing at the world championships in Italy."

Last year Quintana was a key figure in the Italian autumn races when he won the Giro dell'Emilia. Following the world championships, he will stay in Italy to focus on the final monument of the season: Il Lombardia.

"Heading for Spain. The Tour of Britain, the world championships and the Tour of Lombardy are the races that will close this great season," he wrote on Twitter.

The world championships road race will be held on September 29.