Team Arkea reveals the plans it has with Nairo Quintana

[Akrapovic]

The Colombian signed for the next three years.

Nairo Quintana disputed the Paris-Nice title of 2019. And before one of the decisive stages he met Yvon Ledanois, the sports director of the Arekea-Samsic team, whom he had known since his Movistar times.

A clash of hands was the beginning of a work agreement between the two parties, the one announced last Monday on the first rest day of the Tour of Spain.
‘Superman’ López and Nairo, ready to attack in a fierce stage
Classifications of the Tour of Spain, after stage 14
Tremendous fall at the end of the Vuelta a España stage



That time, Ledanois took the opportunity to tell the Boyacean rider that the team had made the decision to make a proposal, knowing that this was his last season under the command of the Spanish Eusebio Unzué. The Colombian agreed to listen to them.

Today, when Nairo Quintana is ready to defend the colors of the French squad for the next three years, TIME spoke with Ledanois, who told how he met the Colombian, what are the expectations with him, how is the matter of raising the team of the continental professional category to the World Tour and how the preparation of the star will be in order to qualify for the title of the Tour de France.

What was the first impression you had of Nairo?
He was with me at the Movistar. He arrived in 2012. He was just a child starting on the World Tour. That time we shared the Route of the South in Movistar, and I was curious how he spoke: firm, hard, confident in his abilities, with a lot of personality.

Why so surprised?
He had just won a stage in the Dauphiné, and on the Road he fought the title. A day before the queen stage, between Trie-sur-Baïse and Arras-en-Lavedan, 204 km, with the Tourmalet in between, he told me that he was going to win and that he would be the leader by a good difference, and he fulfilled it . In one, I told the manager that we were at the forefront of a phenomenon, of a cyclist who could beat us the big three.

How did the arrival at Arkea materialize?
We speak with Giuseppe Acquadro, his manager, and we tell him our expectations. It was not difficult to reach an agreement. His intention was always to have his brother Dáyer and Wínner Anacona, and that was no problem for us.

What goals do they have?
The ambition is to win a big round, and if it is the Tour de France, then better. Nairo has long sought him, and we as a French team, because it suits us. That's why we went for him, because we have that as his goal.

Can you point them to other triumphs?
We, for now, can seek to run Paris-Nice, Critérium du Dauphiné, the great races of France; I think with that there is no problem.

How do you see Quintana share the leadership with Warren Barguil?
It is excellent for our interests. Barguil is very happy to have him. It is a good thing for the team. Warren is a good climber, and with Quintana they can get many victories.

Arkea is in the second division of cycling teams, how is the theme of being a World Tour to run safely Turn, Tour and Lap?
We're on it. We have spoken with the International Cycling Union (UCI) to know if that is possible by 2020. With those runners we have we can be in the big three.

How can it influence the ICU that Nairo is on the team to be given the World Tour license?
Nairo is a long-running runner, and Barguil has been the protagonist of the Tour, winner of the mountain, and that weighs to make a decision. We are doing everything possible to be in that category, and it is convenient for the races that a figure like the Colombian is in them. I can't imagine a Tour without us.

What security do you have that will rise?
We are willing to climb. We talked with the ICU to realize the idea. I don't know if by 2020 we will do it, I don't know if it will be easy. Nairo knew about the subject, and we have told him that we will not have problems to run the Tour, Paris-Nice and Dauphiné. That is enough for him. And the options of running the Tour of Spain open with his name, he has a great sign in that race.

If the team does not reach the World Tour, would not they need to be out of the Giro and the best calendar in the world?
We have had a good relationship with the sponsor of the Tour. ASO is the organizer of the test, the Tour and other races of the highest category. If the option of ascending is given, then welcome, but if not, we will continue trying. That doesn't worry us. Hopefully, the ICU, in mid-September, will deliver good news.
Nairo Quintana