Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[carton]

Frivolous opinion alert: Anyone else think that Quintana looks much younger in profile shots than head on (YouTube)?

It's not something I would normally comment on, but he looks barely 20 from the side and every bit 26 if not more from head on.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Frivolous opinion alert: Anyone else think that Quintana looks much younger in profile shots than head on (YouTube)?

It's not something I would normally comment on, but he looks barely 20 from the side and every bit 26 if not more from head on.

This is a funny observation. I have no opinion.

 

[AlexNYC]

God job by Nairo today. I think he held back a little and was content not losing time.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think he is conserving some energy for the TT which is the right move.

 

[Pantani_lives]

With all those late finishes we don't always get to see him on the podium. So here are a few photos. First one with a happy face...

With a cuddly toy...

And in full glory.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

God job by Nairo today. I think he held back a little and was content not losing time.

But not more than a little - today hurt and he looked pretty roasted in the end. Who knows, but I don't think he was conserving too much today, it was pretty obvious that once Froome was gone he tried to gap him more. Its only natural when Contador finally seems to improve and Chaves has progressed over the last 5-6 days as well. It would be pretty unheard of to be the best rider in the race pretty much through 3 weeks after the TdF.

 

[Red Rick]

Now that's a man who knows it should be in the bag.

 

[Durden93]

Re: Re:

God job by Nairo today. I think he held back a little and was content not losing time.

But not more than a little - today hurt and he looked pretty roasted in the end. Who knows, but I don't think he was conserving too much today, it was pretty obvious that once Froome was gone he tried to gap him more. Its only natural when Contador finally seems to improve and Chaves has progressed over the last 5-6 days as well. It would be pretty unheard of to be the best rider in the race pretty much through 3 weeks after the TdF.

Did he really look like he was hurting? Yeah, he tried to get a gap on Froome and didn't get it, but Froome had to dig really deep to get the st. Either way, he didn't look he is going to crack.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

God job by Nairo today. I think he held back a little and was content not losing time.

But not more than a little - today hurt and he looked pretty roasted in the end. Who knows, but I don't think he was conserving too much today, it was pretty obvious that once Froome was gone he tried to gap him more. Its only natural when Contador finally seems to improve and Chaves has progressed over the last 5-6 days as well. It would be pretty unheard of to be the best rider in the race pretty much through 3 weeks after the TdF.

Did he really look like he was hurting? Yeah, he tried to get a gap on Froome and didn't get it, but Froome had to dig really deep to get the st. Either way, he didn't look he is going to crack.

Watched it again and you are right, but its always hard to read into him. He could most likely have went deeper, but it was not like he was on a picnic like at Zoncolan in 2014. He actually somewhat tried here - I hope he will go for the win on Aitana, I'd imagine Tinkoff and Orica will try to control affairs, but I think its pretty obvious at this point if Contador and Quintana arrive together, Quintana will 'donate' the stage to Contador. Rightfully so, from Quintana's perspective IMO, as it's 'just' a stage and he already has one on Covadonga, but I've never liked this and Contador should only win if he is the strongest.

 

[PremierAndrew]

He definitely tried to put time into Froome yesterday and failed. But it's one thing to not be able to drop your rival, and another to get dropped by over a minute and a half on Saturday on a climb which isn't known for producing big time gaps.

I can't see him losing this

 

[carton]

Re:

He definitely tried to put time into Froome yesterday and failed. But it's one thing to not be able to drop your rival, and another to get dropped by over a minute and a half on Saturday on a climb which isn't known for producing big time gaps.

I can't see him losing this

I can't tell if you're serious or just pushing real hard for the jinx.

I think its pretty obvious at this point if Contador and Quintana arrive together, Quintana will 'donate' the stage to Contador. Rightfully so, from Quintana's perspective IMO, as it's 'just' a stage and he already has one on Covadonga, but I've never liked this and Contador should only win if he is the strongest.

Maybe, but I find it hard to see Contador there and Chaves gone, in which case it's they'd all likely be gunning for it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

You are right, Contador being there and Chaves not will be a surprise. All I hope for is an all out performance if the stage is on the line - no reason to conserve anything. Its always much sweeter, at least from my perspective, to finish the GT off with a win, mano-a-mano against your rivals on a MTF. Just if anybody should be in doubt who is the strongest, ya know.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Save us all, Nairito.

 

[huangho]

So Nairo might grab 3 jerseys at the end of La Vuelta, great for him!!

I don't see Valverde winning tomorrow's stage, but Nairo smashing it!

 

[tretiak]

His calculation was right. He sad 3 min before TT. If he don't crack totally or have a misfortune the deal is done.

 

[Valv.Piti]

No worries for tomorrow, Quintana did very well, but Froome was a monster. Froome will probably wait till the last climb and hasn't been able to out climb Quintana so far, so unless Quintana bonks, this should be over. Hoping for a great stage!

 

[Cookster15]

Re:

No worries for tomorrow, Quintana did very well, but Froome was a monster. Froome will probably wait till the last climb and hasn't been able to out climb Quintana so far, so unless Quintana bonks, this should be over. Hoping for a great stage!

Agreed. Would be nice to see Nairo put maybe 10 or 15 seconds into Froome just to prove a point.

 

[lenric]

I hope today helped Quintana (and Movistar) to finally realize they must change their strategy to win the Tour.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I hope today helped Quintana (and Movistar) to finally realize they must change their strategy to win the Tour.

Indeed. Nairo is in slightly better shape than Froome here, but still got absolutely dunked (as did every other GC-contender, including Bertie). Nairo actually did well, but he simply needs to find, lets say 3 minutes, in average in the mountains going up against Froome in TdF. Hard, but not unrealistic - I think he knows by know that means he needs to be better in the first mountain chain. Perhaps new buildup?

 

[AlexNYC]

Unzue and Nairo will probably wait until the Tour's route is announced before even thinking about it, but my guess is that a new strategy, both in the race and before it, is all but inevitable. At least I hope so... I think it is evident now that Quintana cannot defeat Froome by only taking time in one or two stages (although it almost worked in 2015). He needs to try to gain time whenever the parcours favor him, even if it's the first week.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Podium at the Tour and winner of the Vuelta. In any other season, that would be a contender for velo d'or. Chapeau

 

[DNP-Old]

Quintana in stage races:
San Luis: 3rd, gifted his brother a win
Catalunya: 1st
Pais Vasco: 3rd
Romandia: 1st
Route du Sud: 1st
Tour de France: 3rd
Vuelta a Espana: 1st

 

[Eclipse]

Brilliant ride, once again imperiously strong =)

 

[LaFlorecita]

CONGRATS simply the strongest

 

[portugal11]

He deserved this vuelta but he must improve his TT skills or he is fu##ed (again) in le tour. I didn't like his 300 m sprint too, it was really stupid.