There was a lot of confusion in the cycling media last few weeks connected with a racing schedule of Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) for 2014, especially referring to his final decision on which Grand Tour race should he participate this year. Regarded as a strongest climber of his generation after his stellar performances last year, 23-year old Colombian would be considered as a favorite of any three-weeks long race he prefers, but now it became clear that the team’s title sponsor – Spanish Movistar, has a final say on this matter.

After Quintana finished as a runner-up behind Christopher Froome in his Tour the France debut lest year and left the impression of being the strongest climber on mountain stages in the third week of the event, it became clear that a new, very serious contender for Grand Tour GC battles has emerged, and it won’t be a one-year wonder.

Since then, the 2014 racing program of the young Colombian, and particularly final preferences on his Grand Tour campaign for the coming season, became an object of an increased attention from cycling media as well as his main rivals.

Even though in an interview for Spanish El Tiempo given few weeks ago Quintana definitely opted for doing the Giro-Vuelta double in 2014, as the Tour route this year with its long time trial seems least favorable for the tiny Colombian, he has admitted while participating season’s opening Tour de San Luis, that the sponsors have a final say despite his own preferences.

"I'm not playing tactics. I've got to decide what the sponsor wants to do, because they're the ones who pay and so their interests decide things," Quintana told Gazzetta dello Sport at the Tour de San Luis, where he suffered with a stomach problem on stage one.

"I'd like to ride the Tour because it’s the Tour but the Giro route suits me better. I think Unzue (the Movistar team manager) agrees with me but Movistar will have the last word."

However, the early season racing schedule of Quintana has been announced, and it includes appearances in Ruta del Sol in southern Spain, the Volta a Catalunya, and the Tour de Romandie.