Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Just for the spectacle? The tour was on the line and he didn't do anything to win it!

It can't get any worse than that, especially with his comments after the race.

It is good for you that Contador is not retiring for at least 2 more years. You have something to sheer for. Especially when he shows his 2009 form again in this Tour. Let's hope for the best.

When are people getting reported for this? Clear ad hominem

But whatever, just a sign you gave up and pretty much said i'm right. Pathetic really, just say i'm right without the insults

You probably made your point about 100 times. We get it. Maybe you are not convinced that this sport is bloody hard.

IMHO he tried in Alpe. He waited too long in La Toussuire.

Beating Froome is not easy.

 

[Red Rick]

I love it when Miburo accuses other posters of ad hominem posts

 

[Miburo]

I don't think he made a mistake on la toussuire, well i guess he did but the alpe stage was far far worse.

He knew he could distance Froome, but his half hearted attack on the croix was never gonna work, he had to go way earlier on the climb.

In a serious discussion i don't ad hominem red rick Even i sometimes like to crack a joke

 

[Valv.Piti]

Tour de Suisse? Criterium Dauphine? Nope, Route du Sud, just as last year. A relatively hard MTF after Tourmalet and this year also an ITT just to get in the groove.

After rumblings about Suisse and the extremely mountain-heavy route, he has decided on Sud. Wise move I say. Has been on a high level the whole year and needs a little time off and also wants a piece of the Vuelta later on. Suisse will make that harder.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/05/news/quintana-wont-race-until-route-du-sud-before-tour_406409

 

[Isaak-Gabriel]

Tour de Suisse? Criterium Dauphine? Nope, Route du Sud, just as last year. A relatively hard MTF after Tourmalet and this year also an ITT just to get in the groove.

After rumblings about Suisse and the extremely mountain-heavy route, he has decided on Sud. Wise move I say. Has been on a high level the whole year and needs a little time off and also wants a piece of the Vuelta later on. Suisse will make that harder.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/05/news/quintana-wont-race-until-route-du-sud-before-tour_406409

WT ranking is less important than TdF.

 

[SeriousSam]

Everything is second to the TdF. Quintana knows what he's doing, going all in on the Tour. He can win lesser stage races later if he wants to, or if circumstances force him to.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Everything is second to the TdF. Quintana knows what he's doing, going all in on the Tour. He can win lesser stage races later if he wants to, or if circumstances force him to.

Agree, I think its the best bet as well. Suisse might be too hard, too early.

 

[AlexNYC]

Although ultimately a wise move, doing the TdS could have made him stronger in the Tour's first week, which will probably include a couple of attacks by Froome no doubt. Even so, it was probably too risky. Until he wins the Tour, everything else must come second.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Although ultimately a wise move, doing the TdS could have made him stronger in the Tour's first week, which will probably include a couple of attacks by Froome no doubt. Even so, it was probably too risky. Until he wins the Tour, everything else must come second.

I hope that's the attitude he has for this season. Screw Olympics and the Vuelta, I want him to beat Alberto and Froome fair & square and leave no doubts behind him. Ventoux, Emosson and Joux Plane are where the Tour likely will be won.

I don't think he should fear the first week. Even if Froome is better at Aspin, I doubt he will gain much time if any. He needs to be peak from Ventoux and onwards, the Pyrenees while hard, are very good designed for Quintana and less so for Froome

 

[SeriousSam]

Would be poetic if Froome and Quintana have another duel on the slopes of Ventoux

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Would be poetic if Froome and Quintana have another duel on the slopes of Ventoux

Hopefully Quintana will stay with Froome until he launches the inevitable attack this time around, altho chances are Froome would have put at least 20 seconds into Quintana nevertheless

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Although ultimately a wise move, doing the TdS could have made him stronger in the Tour's first week, which will probably include a couple of attacks by Froome no doubt. Even so, it was probably too risky. Until he wins the Tour, everything else must come second.

I hope that's the attitude he has for this season. Screw Olympics and the Vuelta, I want him to beat Alberto and Froome fair & square and leave no doubts behind him. Ventoux, Emosson and Joux Plane are where the Tour likely will be won.

I don't think he should fear the first week. Even if Froome is better at Aspin, I doubt he will gain much time if any. He needs to be peak from Ventoux and onwards, the Pyrenees while hard, are very good designed for Quintana and less so for Froome

I think col d'aspin will be crucial. Quintana and contador should follow froome otherwise is the same old story

 

[MovistarRider]

Re: Re:

Would be poetic if Froome and Quintana have another duel on the slopes of Ventoux

Hopefully Quintana will stay with Froome until he launches the inevitable attack this time around, altho chances are Froome would have put at least 20 seconds into Quintana nevertheless

Stage 5 has some major climbs coming up, which will throw the GC open. Nairo and Movistar should really look to cause some damage there, it would be the ideal stage to claim the pole position for the yellow jersey. I really want to see Nairo open some gap to Froome in that stage..instead of chasing him in the last week.

The one stage i don't look forward too is stage 13’s 37km time trial effort. Froome wants to lay down a marker there. What do you think?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Would be poetic if Froome and Quintana have another duel on the slopes of Ventoux

Hopefully Quintana will stay with Froome until he launches the inevitable attack this time around, altho chances are Froome would have put at least 20 seconds into Quintana nevertheless

Stage 5 has some major climbs coming up, which will throw the GC open. Nairo and Movistar should really look to cause some damage there, it would be the ideal stage to claim the pole position for the yellow jersey. I really want to see Nairo open some gap to Froome in that stage..instead of chasing him in the last week.

The one stage i don't look forward too is stage 13’s 37km time trial effort. Froome wants to lay down a marker there. What do you think?

My take is stage 5 is hard, but won't cause carnage in the GC. The last climb isn't hard, the two previous are relatively steep, but unless someone has a bad day, it will be a matter of a few seconds if any.
Into the Pyrenées, the mountain stages are designed, it seems, to prevent Froome from deciding the race on the first MTF. Not that I think he would've this time around (he wouldn't have last year either if not for the 2 minutes loss on stage 2), but you have 2 days finishing downhill which isn't exactly Froome-terrain. He would've preferred at least 1 of them to finish on top.
Which brings us to stage 9. It will depend whether or not Froome and Sky has launched their trademark attack on either Aspin or the Azet/Peyresorude-combo. If they haven't, expect all hell lose and Quintana should do everything in order to follow Froome. Arcalis is a relatively shallow climb, but its a hard stage and it finishes in +2200, its not a marathon, but much harder than the first MTF in terms of terrain the last climb in 13 and 15 which obviously is in Quintana's favour. I don't what to expect - honestly, I think they will hit hard at Aspin, stage 7, on a one-climb stage the first day in the mountains. Froome knows what has worked for him in the past and Aspin is sufficiently hard.

Then you have Ventoux and at this point, Nairo should be the best climber or at least even with Froome. Ventoux is a perfect climb for Nairo.
While the ITT is hard, I don't expect it to decide anything. Its hilly and is only 37 kilometres - I expect time gaps around 1 minute for Contador, Pinot, Froome and Quintana.

Stage 17 at Emosson has the hardest finale of the race. A deadly 1-2 punch, the best possibility IMO the gain the most time. Mountanious ITT the next day and at this point, I think the race has been sealed since it already at this point have been extremely hard with 2 enormous MTFs and 2 TT's.
If Nairo isn't is in the race lead at this point, stage 19 offers a decent chance, but its a rather short climb.
Stage 20 is the stage where the most can be gained, JP is a very hard climb, but as I said earlier, I can't imagine the Tour being open at this point.

 

[MovistarRider]

@Valv.Piti

How do you think stage 13 & stage 18 will go for Nairo in comparison to Froome? He’s never been a formidable time trialist like Froome or Contador. So should we be a litte worried about the time trials or do you think our boy will be just fine and not lose much ground on these 2 stages?

I know that Nairo has been improving his TT but i just can't stop thinking about the 2 TT-stages in 2013 where he conceded 3:16 (at Mont Saint-Michel) and the other 1:11 he lost (from Embrun to Chorges) to Froome.

Also, there is no team time trial in TDF 2016. One of those 2 TT being a team time trial would be much better because we can held our own against the likes of Sky and even BMC Racing. What's your take on it?

 

[Valv.Piti]

I can't see Nairo lose more than 2 minutes to Froome. I can't remember the last time Froome did a very good TT, this is not the 2013-version of him and Nairo has definitely improved. As I said, the first one is actually rather hilly and Nairo will most likely top-10 in this one in my opinion.
I don't know how hard the next one is exactly, but it seems very similar to what he has encountered in Pais Vasco and his track record in those TT's are very good. Its dead even, depends on the form. Contador should be the favourite if he is in good shape.

1.30 is a realistic goal.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

@Valv.Piti

How do you think stage 13 & stage 18 will go for Nairo in comparison to Froome? He’s never been a formidable time trialist like Froome or Contador. So should we be a litte worried about the time trials or do you think our boy will be just fine and not lose much ground on these 2 stages?

I know that Nairo has been improving his TT but i just can't stop thinking about the 2 TT-stages in 2013 where he conceded 3:16 (at Mont Saint-Michel) and the other 1:11 he lost (from Embrun to Chorges) to Froome.

Also, there is no team time trial in TDF 2016. One of those 2 TT being a team time trial would be much better because we can held our own against the likes of Sky and even BMC Racing. What's your take on it?

If you see a top contador at tour, i expect quintana to loose something like 2.30 minutes to contador. He lost 28 seconds in just 4 km to contador in TT's pais vasco. Contador is a beast in MTT

 

[Valv.Piti]

Riding such an ITT in Pais Vasco is very, very different to a MTT on stage 18 after arguably the hardest finish in the race. Quintana wasn't exactly flying in that race either - he got sick after Catalunya.

As I said, Contador is probably the favourite for the MTT, but 2.30 over both ITT? No way. 1.30, max, I say a minute.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Riding such an ITT in Pais Vasco is very, very different to a MTT on stage 18 after arguably the hardest finish in the race. Quintana wasn't exactly flying in that race either - he got sick after Catalunya.

As I said, Contador is probably the favourite for the MTT, but 2.30 over both ITT? No way. 1.30, max, I say a minute.

Mont ventoux will play a crucial part of it. But if contador is in good shape on stage 18, he will gain almost a minute to quintana. Look to the second TT at tour 2013, a shi##y contador gain more than a minute on quintana.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Riding such an ITT in Pais Vasco is very, very different to a MTT on stage 18 after arguably the hardest finish in the race. Quintana wasn't exactly flying in that race either - he got sick after Catalunya.

As I said, Contador is probably the favourite for the MTT, but 2.30 over both ITT? No way. 1.30, max, I say a minute.

Mont ventoux will play a crucial part of it. But if contador is in good shape on stage 18, he will gain almost a minute to quintana. Look to the second TT at tour 2013, a shi##y contador gain more than a minute on quintana.

Ugh yeah.
3 years ago. I don't think we should take too many conclusions apart from Contador being a beast in hilly/mountainous TT's. The time trial was twice as long - if they are in the same shape, they can both win the stage, but Contador should be the favoured rider. But 1 minute is a definite stretch. But I admire your optimism.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

@Valv.Piti

How do you think stage 13 & stage 18 will go for Nairo in comparison to Froome? He’s never been a formidable time trialist like Froome or Contador. So should we be a litte worried about the time trials or do you think our boy will be just fine and not lose much ground on these 2 stages?

I know that Nairo has been improving his TT but i just can't stop thinking about the 2 TT-stages in 2013 where he conceded 3:16 (at Mont Saint-Michel) and the other 1:11 he lost (from Embrun to Chorges) to Froome.

Also, there is no team time trial in TDF 2016. One of those 2 TT being a team time trial would be much better because we can held our own against the likes of Sky and even BMC Racing. What's your take on it?

If you see a top contador at tour, i expect quintana to loose something like 2.30 minutes to contador. He lost 28 seconds in just 4 km to contador in TT's pais vasco. Contador is a beast in MTT

quintan will do both itt's better than contador. contador isn't a beast in mtt at all/ quintana is though

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Riding such an ITT in Pais Vasco is very, very different to a MTT on stage 18 after arguably the hardest finish in the race. Quintana wasn't exactly flying in that race either - he got sick after Catalunya.

As I said, Contador is probably the favourite for the MTT, but 2.30 over both ITT? No way. 1.30, max, I say a minute.

Mont ventoux will play a crucial part of it. But if contador is in good shape on stage 18, he will gain almost a minute to quintana. Look to the second TT at tour 2013, a shi##y contador gain more than a minute on quintana.

Ugh yeah.
3 years ago. I don't think we should take too many conclusions apart from Contador being a beast in hilly/mountainous TT's. The time trial was twice as long - if they are in the same shape, they can both win the stage, but Contador should be the favoured rider. But 1 minute is a definite stretch. But I admire your optimism.

I think contador will gain a 1.40 minutes in the first TT and he will gain 50 seconds in the second. But yeah maybe i'm a bit optimistic

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

@Valv.Piti

How do you think stage 13 & stage 18 will go for Nairo in comparison to Froome? He’s never been a formidable time trialist like Froome or Contador. So should we be a litte worried about the time trials or do you think our boy will be just fine and not lose much ground on these 2 stages?

I know that Nairo has been improving his TT but i just can't stop thinking about the 2 TT-stages in 2013 where he conceded 3:16 (at Mont Saint-Michel) and the other 1:11 he lost (from Embrun to Chorges) to Froome.

Also, there is no team time trial in TDF 2016. One of those 2 TT being a team time trial would be much better because we can held our own against the likes of Sky and even BMC Racing. What's your take on it?

If you see a top contador at tour, i expect quintana to loose something like 2.30 minutes to contador. He lost 28 seconds in just 4 km to contador in TT's pais vasco. Contador is a beast in MTT

quintan will do both itt's better than contador. contador isn't a beast in mtt at all/ quintana is though

Lol

 

[Valv.Piti]

If Contador gains that much, if he is in that good shape, he will most likely also just drop Quintana uphill and win the Tour easily. +4 minutes territory, 2009-esque. Those times are over.

Contador is at 5 times the money back. I'll advise you place your money there!

 

[MovistarRider]

Re: Re:

@Valv.Piti

How do you think stage 13 & stage 18 will go for Nairo in comparison to Froome? He’s never been a formidable time trialist like Froome or Contador. So should we be a litte worried about the time trials or do you think our boy will be just fine and not lose much ground on these 2 stages?

I know that Nairo has been improving his TT but i just can't stop thinking about the 2 TT-stages in 2013 where he conceded 3:16 (at Mont Saint-Michel) and the other 1:11 he lost (from Embrun to Chorges) to Froome.

Also, there is no team time trial in TDF 2016. One of those 2 TT being a team time trial would be much better because we can held our own against the likes of Sky and even BMC Racing. What's your take on it?

If you see a top contador at tour, i expect quintana to loose something like 2.30 minutes to contador. He lost 28 seconds in just 4 km to contador in TT's pais vasco. Contador is a beast in MTT

If Contador keeps his good form and continues that to Critérium du Dauphiné then he should be favourite going into those 2 TT's. Froome is not in his 2013 TT form and hasn't been impressive in 2016 like Alberto and Nairo has been. It's not a secret that Quintana is not the best TT rider out of those 3, so Contador has to be favourite.

But 2.30, i won't buy that. You could be right, it could be even more than the 2.30 you're predecting but under normal circumstances Nairo won't let himself get beaten with 2.30 in those 2 TT's.

Anyway, it's Froome i'm worried about, not Contador. Even if you're right with your prediction Nairo would eat this 2.30 (plus some) out of Contador's hands in the mountain stages. I'm sorry but i don't see Contador as a threat to our boy in the overall standings. When it get's steep, Nairo is gone!