Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana said Thursday he will not race in the Vuelta a Espana, following his disqualification from the Tour de France for taking a banned pain medication.

The 77th Annual La Vuelta a España will begin this Friday, in Utrecht with a team time trial. This pancake-flat stage will kick off three-days in the Netherlands before circumventing the peloton make their way around Spain before the finale in Madrid.

La Vuelta a España is often one of the most competitive and unpredictable races to wrap the grand tour stretch for 2022. Whether coming back from injury like Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) or Julian Alaphillipe, or pros seeking their first grand tour victory like Michael Woods (Israel – Premier Tech), one thing racing fans may count on is an exciting three weeks of racing in the ever changing weather and steep slopes around Spain.

La Vuelta A España begins this Friday in the Netherlands before the peloton hop on a plane to continue their battle around Spain. The final Grand Tour of the season often favors climbers, but this year with the opening team time trial and a long 30.9 km individual time trial, that may difficult.