Quintana: It's possible to win both the Tour and the Vuelta

Nairo Quintana has again set his sights on the Tour de France and wants to finally reach the top spot in Paris. That will be his "priority" in 2016 but he also has his eyes on the Olympic road race in Rio de Janeiro and the Vuelta a Espana. The Colombian faces the triple challenge with confidence.

This week Quintana was announced as a member of Team Visa, which supports the 30 best athletes in the world in preparation for the Olympics.

“It is an honor and a privilege for me to be the first Colombian on this illustrious list," he told El Espectador. "To have this opportunity among many major world-class athletes and medalists is a pride. It is all thanks to the sporting achievements that we have obtained, with all the passion we have shown. And of course I agree that I will be in Rio to win the gold medal.

“My goals are big. The Tour de France is there, I've been on the podium twice and that gives me faith that I can repeat that and I hope to win, I want to be the best. I was not far behind so I have dreams. We hope to have fortune and spared bad luck to go for the win.”

This year Quintana lost crucial time in stage when he missed the selection in the crosswinds on stage 2.

“I have had many thoughts but I cannot turn time back," he said. "I could only fight, attack and try to win, and eventually I was second. The good news is that there are many opportunities. I am only 25 years old and have watched 40-year-old riders winning grand tours. It is not my plan to race at that age but I know I have many good years ahead. And I never give up.

"I know it's not easy [to win two grand tours in a year], but you can do it. It is difficult and only a few have done it but it's a challenge that I have for the future and I'm going to try. Why not dream of winning two grand tours? If I lose, they will say: "Nairo Quintana failed to win the two grand tours.” At least I will try. There's no doubt.

“I know I will also do the Vuelta but my priority is undoubtedly the Tour de France."

Despite the near-miss in the Tour, Quintana is pleased with his season that also included a fourth place in the Vuelta and the overall win in Tirreno-Adriatico.

“I was very pleased but of course you always want more," he said. "It is not a disgrace to lose the Tour due to lost time in the first week, but eventually I battled back and got on the podium. And in the Vuelta a Espana, although it was quite ill, I finished in fourth place which is not bad at all."

At just 25 years of age, Quintana is already the leader of the team that has won the WorldTour three years ina row.

“It is a pride that I have not bought anywhere," he said. "I have earned it with hard work for many years and have suffered enough to get it. I was a dream that I had and it certainly helped me to have the support of my family, sponsors and a whole country in a surprising way. Thanks to this combination I could get where I am. Now the issue is not to become the leader of Movistar but how to stay in that position. I want to be an example as a sportsman and as a human being."

Next year Quintana will have compatriot Carlos Betancur at his side. However, it is still uncertain whether the two Colombians will actually ride together.

“In two weeks we will gather in Spain and the schedule will be decided there. We will see who will do which races. I know for now that he will be responsible for supporting Alejandro Valverde in the classics," Quintana said.

When he turned pro, Quintana appeared to be shy. Now he is more talkative. 

“What happens is that I am relaxing more and more," he said. "And it will improve my cycling. I am also improving in many other aspects. I get some enriching experience on the bike and that opens up the world in a wonderful way."

Quintana is a Unicef ambassador and uses that position to encourage kids to do sports.

“I send a special greeting to the children and teenagers and invite them to do sports and their parents to provide them with healthy habits," he said. "To invest in sport is investing in the health of their children. Balls are very cheap, bicycles a little less, but they are a great investment. But the truth is that you can do sport in many ways."