“Honestly, I need to find myself again” and “I just want to avoid bad luck in the Tour this year.” The first line points to Nairo Quintana, who will be 34 next season, and the second line also centers on Quintana, age 34. Enric Mas, who turns 29 in January, is part of the same narrative. The Colombian rider returns to Movistar, while the Mallorcan cyclist breathes a sigh of relief after a solitary 2023 as the team’s undisputed leader under Telefónica’s sponsorship, officially unveiled in Madrid on Thursday.
Movistar, a squad that has won the Vuelta a España, the Giro d’Italia, and has reached the Tour de France podium, returns to the Spanish outfit after a period of quiet sanctions. The team faced questions about an anti-inflammatory treatment that raised doubts about the riders’ health in a year without competition, even though there was no proof of doping at the time.
These two riders, Enric Mas and Nairo Quintana, symbolize Movistar’s 2024 ambitions. A callout appears in social media posts with the handles @EnricMasNicolau and @NairoQuinCo, celebrating the Movistar Team 2024 lineup. The team’s official social channel posted the moment in late December 2023, marking a fresh start for a squad that has long represented Spanish cycling on the world stage.
Despite a fall on the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France that sidelined Quintana from the race, his season progressed and he still secured a top result in the general classification. The Tour remains a key test as he re-enters the World Tour with Movistar, the only Spanish team registered for the Grand Tours, a status that underscores its role as a major force in the sport.
During the Tour, Mas is expected to lead Movistar as the team marks Telefónica’s centenary, while Quintana carries the Giro d’Italia leadership, aiming for a return to form ten years after his first victory in the race. The two riders are anticipated to share leadership duties at the Vuelta a España, a race that begins and ends in Spain and features a concluding time trial in Madrid, providing a dramatic showcase for the team’s sponsors.
Quintana’s gratitude and the new chapter
Quintana expressed his appreciation for joining a new phase with Movistar, describing the move as exciting and motivating. He hopes to perform strongly in the Tour general classification and emphasizes that his return to the Spanish squad brings a wealth of experience to the team. He also notes the value of contributing to Movistar’s ongoing development, a squad that has served as a launchpad for many of Spain’s greatest cyclists who progressed through the ranks since the early days of the team’s history.
Movistar prepares for its 13th season in the professional peloton next year, a lineage that makes it the oldest cycling team since its founding. Under historic leadership, the squad has been home to a sequence of iconic riders who left a lasting imprint on the sport. The roster has seen changes, with strategic signings aimed at strengthening the squad’s middle tier and bolstering stage-winning potential, while maintaining a focus on overall classification chances across grand tours.
Public tributes to the team’s legacy and its sponsors continue to resonate in Madrid and beyond as the brand looks toward the next era. The team’s supporters and the broader cycling community recognize Movistar as a cornerstone of Spanish cycling’s heritage, while still pushing for new successes and fresh momentum in a modern, competitive era.
In the broader context of Movistar’s plans, the roster for the upcoming season features a balanced mix of established leaders and emerging talents. The goal is to contend for stage wins and stage classifications, while maintaining a high level of consistency across the season’s major races. The women’s program faces its own transition, as a new chapter unfolds following the retirement of a marquee rider. The emphasis remains on giving riders greater freedom to pursue individual goals and overall classifications across the calendar.
The public narrative around Telefónica’s sponsorship remains clear: the brands seek to maximize visibility through performance, teamwork, and a sustained presence in the world’s most prestigious races. As the team looks ahead, the emphasis is on cohesion, strategic leadership, and a drive to deliver results that honor the team’s long-standing heritage while embracing the opportunities of a new sporting era.