Vuelta a España winner Nairo Quintana receives hero's welcome on return to Colombia

Fans line the roads in the Colombian capital Bogotá to welcome home Vuelta a España winner Nairo Quintana

(Photo: Twitter/@NairoQuinCo)

Nairo Quintana was a pretty popular guy in Colombia before the Vuelta a España, but returning to his homeland after winning his first red jersey gave Bogotá residents a chance to celebrate their hero.

The Movistar rider appeared at an event in the Colombian capital to mark his second Grand Tour win, with huge numbers of people lining the roads as the 26-year-old paraded through on an open-top bus.

Quintana beat Team Sky's Chris Froome over the Vuelta's 21 stages, winning stage 10 to the Lagos de Covadonga in the process.

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After his Vuelta win, Movistar announced that Quintana has renewed his contract with the Spanish team through the 2019 season.

Having won the Giro d'Italia in 2014, Quintana's palmares is now only missing the Tour de France, where he has finished second to Froome in 2013 and 2015, and third in 2016.

Headline sponsor Movistar also renewed its contract until the end of 2019, hoping to continue its streak of success, having topped the WorldTour rankings each year since 2012.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.