Nairo Quintana again hinted that he had found a team for 2023, but Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materio and EF Education-Easypost quickly insisted that the Colombians would not run for them in 2023.

Quintana launched a coffee and clothing brand in Colombia and said he could target the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España as a team in 2023, but did not reveal the name of the team. Antena 2, a Colombian radio station that interviewed Quintana, named EF Education-EasyPost and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux as future teams.

Quintana has been without a team since September, when he left Alcare Samsic. Since then, he has been unable to get his tramadol case overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and as a result lost his sixth place overall in the 2022 Tour de France.

In recent weeks, Quintana has been linked to former teams Movistar, Bahrain Victorious, Astana Kazakstan, and now EF Education Easy Post and Intermarché Wanty-Gobert Matériault.

Astana Kazakstan and Bahrain Victorious quickly denied any interest, and Movistar also explained on social media that it had reached the UCI quota of 30 for 2023 and said the rumors were part of a "no news November."

Ike Visbæk, performance director of Intermarque Wantigover, also likened the reports to the team's recent parody tweet about the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the soccer star who left Manchester United He likened it to the team's recent parody tweet about the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the soccer star who left Manchester United, and dismissed the idea of signing Quintana.

"I've just finally calmed down after Cristiano's proposed arrival.

In a more serious message to Cycling News, Intermarque Wanty-Gobert said that reports of Quintana joining the team were "false rumors."

Vaughters added his team to the list of teams not interested in or unable to sign Quintana, tweeting: "Hmmm. First I've heard of this. Might be difficult considering our roster is full," he tweeted.

EF Education-EasyPost signed Richard Kalapas and will retain Rigoberto Uran through 2023.

Quintana turned down an offer from the Team Medellín EPM Continental team via social media. He claimed to have a team for 2023, but declined to say who exactly it was.

"We have decided (on the 2023 team), but we still have to remain calm. Later I will announce the decision we have made and what will happen. I will comment later on everything related to the team and my career."

When asked if he was Movistar, he declined to say whether it was a World Tour team.

"I can't say or promise anyone. Later we will talk about what's next for Nairo Quintana," he concluded.