Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[Gigs_98]

Not sure if this double attempt ist a smart decision. His chances in July will definitely be smaller and winning the giro won't be easy as well, especially if he isn't at 100%. 2014 his only rivals were Uran (a mediocre gt rider) and a 24 year old Aru. This year there are Nibali, Landa, Aru, Kruijswijk, Mollema, Pinot and let's not underestimate Dumoulin. Who knows how much he improved.
Without a doubt Quintana is still a big favorite for this giro, but this isn't a double attempt like Contador's in 2015. Back then Contador knew that even if he wouldn't be in top shape in the tour because of the double attempt he would probably still win the giro because of the mediocre competition. This year however there is the danger that a not in top shape Quintana won't win the giro and then won't have a chance in the tour because of another gt in his legs.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

 

[damian13ster]

Not sure if this double attempt ist a smart decision. His chances in July will definitely be smaller and winning the giro won't be easy as well, especially if he isn't at 100%. 2014 his only rivals were Uran (a mediocre gt rider) and a 24 year old Aru. This year there are Nibali, Landa, Aru, Kruijswijk, Mollema, Pinot and let's not underestimate Dumoulin. Who knows how much he improved.
Without a doubt Quintana is still a big favorite for this giro, but this isn't a double attempt like Contador's in 2015. Back then Contador knew that even if he wouldn't be in top shape in the tour because of the double attempt he would probably still win the giro because of the mediocre competition. This year however there is the danger that a not in top shape Quintana won't win the giro and then won't have a chance in the tour because of another gt in his legs.

He was unlikely to win the Tour anyway, so Tour 2nd is worse than Giro win plus Tour podium.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

In the Giro of 2014, the only guy that could potentially beat him was Purito. But he was already out before the race even started with his crash at the Amstel.

Now he will face guys like Nibali and Chavito. It will be tougher for sure.

I very much doubt that. As a matter of fact, I very much hope Chavito will ride the TdF - we will need him, Bardet and Contador to light the race up. The more aggressive riders, the better... the Giro will be just fine off without him considering the rest of the GC-pool.

 

[manolo57]

Re: Re:

In the Giro of 2014, the only guy that could potentially beat him was Purito. But he was already out before the race even started with his crash at the Amstel.

Now he will face guys like Nibali and Chavito. It will be tougher for sure.

I very much doubt that. As a matter of fact, I very much hope Chavito will ride the TdF - we will need him, Bardet and Contador to light the race up. The more aggressive riders, the better... the Giro will be just fine off without him considering the rest of the GC-pool.

http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/esteban-chaves-con-la-mira-en-el-giro-se-estrena-en-el-2017/16793253

It seems that Chavito will do the Giro !

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

In the Giro of 2014, the only guy that could potentially beat him was Purito. But he was already out before the race even started with his crash at the Amstel.

Now he will face guys like Nibali and Chavito. It will be tougher for sure.

I very much doubt that. As a matter of fact, I very much hope Chavito will ride the TdF - we will need him, Bardet and Contador to light the race up. The more aggressive riders, the better... the Giro will be just fine off without him considering the rest of the GC-pool.

http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/esteban-chaves-con-la-mira-en-el-giro-se-estrena-en-el-2017/16793253

It seems that Chavito will do the Giro !

Wow the Giro is going to have an amazing GC field.

 

[staubsauger]

That potentially forces riders like Hirt, Dombrowski & Foliforov to fight for the blue jersey and mountain stage wins. Which easily might produce the most honorable kom prize winner since Sella!

It's gonna be a big show for the anniversary. That's for sure. Great.

 

[Escarabajo]

It didn't come out from Chaves mouth. Not sure if that is a given. Similar to Quintana, we have to wait for the team press release.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

That potentially forces riders like Hirt, Dombrowski & Foliforov to fight for the blue jersey and mountain stage wins. Which easily might produce the most honorable kom prize winner since Sella!

It's gonna be a big show for the anniversary. That's for sure. Great.

Indeed. Its just a shame the route is kinda mediocre compared to what we were promised and hoped for. Had been top notch with a 2015-route or even 2016-route (which I also think easily is better than 2017).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

It didn't come out from Chaves mouth. Not sure if that is a given. Similar to Quintana, we have to wait for the team press release.

There'll almost be too many great GT-prospects at the Giro then (there is no such thing, I know). I just don't see how he can win that Giro with 70 km of relatively flat ITT and I really wan't him to race Ardennes + TdF for once. I think he could surprise once again. The Giro has what it takes to be a great race, the Tour is still a bit too far back, especially if we get to see A. Yates jumping to the last wheel over and over again instead of Chaves.

 

[RedheadDane]

Can he actually do the Double?
I dunno, but there's really no other way to find out than trying.

 

[Singer01]

I don't understand this board, when St Alberto of Contador tried the double he was an f'ing hero, Quintana is mainly getting stick for it.
I'm also unsure as to the lack of discussion of Landa in the GC field, if he brings his 2015 form surely he is the second favourite (accepting that there is no guarantee he is in that sort of form).

 

[Robert5091]

With a long flat ITT in the Vuelta then it's logical to think of the Giro & Tour.

 

[rick james]

Re:

I don't understand this board, when St Alberto of Contador tried the double he was an f'ing hero, Quintana is mainly getting stick for it.
I'm also unsure as to the lack of discussion of Landa in the GC field, if he brings his 2015 form surely he is the second favourite (accepting that there is no guarantee he is in that sort of form).

Agendas my friend, agendas

 

[hrotha]

Re:

I don't understand this board, when St Alberto of Contador tried the double he was an f'ing hero, Quintana is mainly getting stick for it.

Maybe the fact that Contador had already won the Tour a couple of times had something to do with it.

 

[Netserk]

While I do welcome the attempt from Nairo, the Giro field is already stacked and will in itself be tough to beat, and then he still needs to beat a fresh Froome in the Tour afterwards, on a route that only has two MTFs, so he'll probably have to gain time on either Chat or Galibier, even if he is the better climber of the two, which is no certainty.

After 2014, while still unlikely, it looked less so for Contador the year after than it does for Nairo now, but he failed, more so than I expect Nairo to, whom I expect to still podium the Tour.

 

[huge]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

Yes, they are both born in 1990. Aru a few months younger.

In any case, riders progress and improve at different rates during their careers. And Quintana has been definitely quicker than Aru, which in 2014 was certainly no match for the Colombian.
Nowadays the gap between the two is definitely smaller, even if Nairo is still better.

I think Aru is kind of a rebus. Great in 2015. Rubbish last year. Where does he stand now? Has he improved on his 2015 levels? If so, than he could be a serious threat.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I don't understand this board, when St Alberto of Contador tried the double he was an f'ing hero, Quintana is mainly getting stick for it.

Maybe the fact that Contador had already won the Tour a couple of times had something to do with it.

But Contador crashed out of the Tour in 2014 and hadn't won it since 2010 at that point, yet still chose to ride the Giro. He 'honoured' the race which couldn't be said about the boring, Tour-centric Froome who was scared of Alberto and needed to prepare 100% solely on TdF.

Its a completely different story with Quintana and thats a good point from the poster above which I haven't thought about until he brought it up. The situations are different, obviously, but lets not forget this is the 100th Giro and Quintana may think he still has unfinished business to do after how he won in 2014 (altho I don't think he cares about that, but who knows).

I can see the arguments for him riding a traditional Tour-schedule, but my guess is the chose to ride it based on 4 factors which, when you all put them together, make quite a bit of sense:

1. He learned from 2016 that riding 2 GT's consecutively was very doable and was even better in the Vuelta, altho I do appreciate that that wasn't the case in 2015. But given all the information and different numbers they have at their disposal, I assume they know a lot we don't know about that.

2. If he wins the Giro as a minimum, he will still come out at the end of the season with a big win regardless of the Tour - exactly the same thought as Alberto in 2015. And like Alberto, he will have the possibility of having won the last 3 GT's in a row.

3. The TdF route is a big mess with lesser opportunities for Quintana. Looking at such a route, I honestly don't blame him for maybe feeling a bit uninspired.

4. Its the centenary Giro, its a bigger race to win than normally considering that and the talent he is going up against.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

Yes, they are both born in 1990. Aru a few months younger.

In any case, riders progress and improve at different rates during their careers. And Quintana has been definitely quicker than Aru, which in 2014 was certainly no match for the Colombian.
Nowadays the gap between the two is definitely smaller, even if Nairo is still better.

I think Aru is kind of a rebus. Great in 2015. Rubbish last year. Where does he stand now? Has he improved on his 2015 levels? If so, than he could be a serious threat.

Aru also started riding a bike quite late iirc. At 18 or so.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Not sure if this double attempt ist a smart decision. His chances in July will definitely be smaller and winning the giro won't be easy as well, especially if he isn't at 100%. 2014 his only rivals were Uran (a mediocre gt rider) and a 24 year old Aru. This year there are Nibali, Landa, Aru, Kruijswijk, Mollema, Pinot and let's not underestimate Dumoulin. Who knows how much he improved.
Without a doubt Quintana is still a big favorite for this giro, but this isn't a double attempt like Contador's in 2015. Back then Contador knew that even if he wouldn't be in top shape in the tour because of the double attempt he would probably still win the giro because of the mediocre competition. This year however there is the danger that a not in top shape Quintana won't win the giro and then won't have a chance in the tour because of another gt in his legs.

uran a mediocre gt rider? he beat aru, who for the record is the same age as quintana. kruiswijk, mollema are a ton worse, keep in mind uran was a lot better than kruiswijk as well in the giro 2014 and have the same age. landa I give you he is strong.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

yes

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

I don't understand this board, when St Alberto of Contador tried the double he was an f'ing hero, Quintana is mainly getting stick for it.

Maybe the fact that Contador had already won the Tour a couple of times had something to do with it.

that makes it all the more admirable that quintana is doing it. it takes no hero to try the double after he already won every gt.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

Yes, they are both born in 1990. Aru a few months younger.

In any case, riders progress and improve at different rates during their careers. And Quintana has been definitely quicker than Aru, which in 2014 was certainly no match for the Colombian.
Nowadays the gap between the two is definitely smaller, even if Nairo is still better.

I think Aru is kind of a rebus. Great in 2015. Rubbish last year. Where does he stand now? Has he improved on his 2015 levels? If so, than he could be a serious threat.

no it's as wide as ever, since aru can't visit his favorite doctor anymore. last year was the real aru we saw.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

Well, compared to 2017, everyone was younger in 2014.

Well when you were 23 and now you are 26, that means something as far as development goes....but you know that.

Isn't Quintana same age as Aru?

Yes, they are both born in 1990. Aru a few months younger.

In any case, riders progress and improve at different rates during their careers. And Quintana has been definitely quicker than Aru, which in 2014 was certainly no match for the Colombian.
Nowadays the gap between the two is definitely smaller, even if Nairo is still better.

I think Aru is kind of a rebus. Great in 2015. Rubbish last year. Where does he stand now? Has he improved on his 2015 levels? If so, than he could be a serious threat.

Aru also started riding a bike quite late iirc. At 18 or so.

not true at all. aru was already racing with top junior teams at age 16 in italy. quintana on the other hand did start bike racing at age 17.

 

[Flamin]

Oh yeah my bad, mixed him up with someone else then.