Nairo Quintana will compete in the Tour de la Provence with teammate Arkea Samsic to start the 2022 season in the same race where he had a very successful campaign in early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

The Colombian revealed that he has recovered from a viral infection last month and is ready to compete in the race.

Quintana dominated the 2020 race in his debut with the French team, taking advantage of the slopes of Mont Ventoux to build an unassailable lead on the stage to Chalet Reynard.

Ventoux will not be featured this year, but instead there will be a final stage to Montagne de Lure. Although not a giant of Provence, there is a 10% gradient section suitable for pure climbers like Quintana.

"I'm motivated to come back to this event and play a bigger role again," Quintana said in a team press release. 'I'm feeling good and have resumed training after contracting covid a few weeks ago.'

"When the opportunity to play a big role in this race comes up, like I said, I'm going to do everything I can to seize it. I don't know much about Montagne de l'Hors, but some of my teammates have already told me and explained to me what makes this climb so special. I want to be in good shape for this competition, fight with the best riders, and improve my overall ranking."

Arkea Samsic started the season with a win in the GP La Marseillaise in Amaury Capio, and sport director Yvon Ledenois is looking forward to more success in his home town.

"Clearly, the Tour de la Provence evokes beautiful recent memories for the Arkea-Samsic team with its two leaders. Like in 2020, this race will be Nairo Quintana's season opener, but the route will be different from previous editions, finishing at the top of the Montagne de l'Hure, different from the Mont Ventoux to Chalet Reynard.

"I go into this Tour de la Provence with a lot of ambition and I'm fighting for a good result like I do every time.

The Tour de la Provence begins with a prologue time trial on Thursday, followed by a sprint stage, a hilly third stage, and the finale in Montagne de Lure.