Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[hrotha]

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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

 

[staubsauger]

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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

What's wrong with winning a gt rather than desperately trying to win the Tour. This is why Armstrong stated Ullrich should try something different, the Giro. And he was right imho.

 

[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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

no it is admirable to try and win both gt's in one year. much more so than having already won every gt and needing to find new goals.

and there is no waiting out. who says in the future quintana will be the best with new young talent? he already beat froome square and fair in the vuelta he can do so again in the tour.

 

[Escarabajo]

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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

Well hothra, by the looks of the situation, it sounds like it was Quintana's initiative not Movistar's. Movistar wanted to stick to the Tour only formula.

 

[yaco]

It's simple - Quintana wins if he's in form - Though the TDF will be compromised.

 

[AlexNYC]

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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

"Stupid" would be planning your season in a way that your probability of failure is maximized. If anything, he's being very clever.

 

[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.

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.

It's not admirable, it's stupid. And I doubt he's doing it because they're so brave at Movistar - rather I suspect he wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Froome on equal footing because he has "still so many Tours ahead of him" and he prefers to wait it out.

"Stupid" would be planning your season in a way that your probability of failure is maximized. If anything, he's being very clever.

Positive posts about Quintana/Movistar and hrotha doesn't really go hand in hand. I wonder what they have done to irritate him so much..

 

[staubsauger]

In summation: There's a reason why Gilberto Simoni & Roberto Heras are bigger riders than Andy Schleck!

 

[rhubroma]

It's a good move for Giro fans and the Tour's route does not play to Nairo's strength. His performance in the last Vuelta at least gives him hope that he can be competative in two back to back GTs. Winning the Tour with only two mtfs and a long tt would be quite difficult, so why not go for a Giro win first?

Besides anytime a major Tour contender decides to ride the Giro too, he only gains respect in my book. Plus Nairo is still young, but mature at the same time. He's thus at the right time in his career to attempt the Giro-Tour double.

 

[roundabout]

What long TT? The 13 km one or the 23 km one?

 

[rhubroma]

What long TT? The 13 km one or the 23 km one?

Sorry, got my GTs mixed up. As far of the Tour is concerned, it's the lack of mountains that is disadvantageous to Quintana.

 

[Escarabajo]

What long TT? The 13 km one or the 23 km one?

The 36 km one!

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

In summation: There's a reason why Gilberto Simoni & Roberto Heras are bigger riders than Andy Schleck!

Indeed they are! Especially Heras

 

[Netserk]

And both lesser than Ulle.

 

[Matis]

Re: Re:

Yes they are the same age !!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

And both lesser than Ulle.

Yeah, thats not really a fair comparison at all.

Agendas, agendas.

 

[dacooley]

still having a go for the double attempt sounds too noisy for me thus far. first of all, nairo will do his best no take his second giro. no 90% peaks, excuses and fanboish explanations as it was with Bertie, for whom winning the 2014 giro was supposedly going to be the easiest gt win. just going to italy and winning the race. and only later on it will be reasonable to think about trying to win the tour.

 

[staubsauger]

But Ullrich won the Tour actually. Something Quintana might as well in future of course. But 2017 ain't the year by the look at it.

 

[Netserk]

Even without his Tour win, Ulle was still a greater rider than Heras and Simoni. I think it's quite clear that Quintana is on another level than Andy.

Andy had 3x2nd in the Tour, 2nd in the Giro and a Liege win.
Quintana has 2x2nd in the Tour and a 3rd, a Giro and Vuelta win, Itzulia, Tirreno, Catalunya and Romandie. And is only almost 27...

 

[meat puppet]

If quintana presumes he will be weaker than froome, then this is definitely a smart thing to do. Instead of one unlikely shot at the tour he has a decent shot at the giro plus a far fetched yet possible shot at the tour. The strongest rider does not win every time.

But the bottom line is this: No sense using the old losing platform if the fundamentals, ie relative strengths of the top contenders, have not been altered much.

The other option would be racing the tour differently, of course. But I don't see it happening.

 

[staubsauger]

Quintana might still adjust his tactics in upcoming Tour editions. 2017 ain't no Tour route to attack like Pantani anyway.

With another Tour of Italy on his palmares, a Tour of Spain overall victory and enough Tour of France podium finishes it might be easier to go all or nothing in upcoming Tour editions, once the route favors that riding style again.

There's still the small option Froome crashes out this year which would give Quintana a realistic shot even with the Giro in his legs.

Other than that this double attempt probably is mainly about another gt win and some good pr for Quintana and obviously Pantani who gets mentioned the whole season all over again.

I just don't see how this is bad in any way. It's realistic and pragmatic, yes. But most likely it's gonna be successful as well. That's the key point imho. Build the whole season around the Tour ain't that likely to end up successful given it's route.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Even without his Tour win, Ulle was still a greater rider than Heras and Simoni. I think it's quite clear that Quintana is on another level than Andy.

Andy had 3x2nd in the Tour, 2nd in the Giro and a Liege win.
Quintana has 2x2nd in the Tour and a 3rd, a Giro and Vuelta win, Itzulia, Tirreno, Catalunya and Romandie. And is only almost 27...

Andy had a terrible crash at age of 27.... of course quintana has a better palmares than andy but i still think that andy was a better climber and a better gc man than quintana

 

[DFA123]

Re:

If quintana presumes he will be weaker than froome, then this is definitely a smart thing to do. Instead of one unlikely shot at the tour he has a decent shot at the giro plus a far fetched yet possible shot at the tour. The strongest rider does not win every time.

But the bottom line is this: No sense using the old losing platform if the fundamentals, ie relative strengths of the top contenders, have not been altered much.

The other option would be racing the tour differently, of course. But I don't see it happening.

Agreed, would be a very smart move by Quintana. The Giro is still a really big deal after all. Unfortunately, although smart by Quintana, it's rubbish for fans as it will probably ruin two GTs as much of a contest. Quintana on decent form will be untouchable in the Giro, and, with Quintana tired, there will be no-one close to Froome's level in the Tour.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Even without his Tour win, Ulle was still a greater rider than Heras and Simoni. I think it's quite clear that Quintana is on another level than Andy.

Andy had 3x2nd in the Tour, 2nd in the Giro and a Liege win.
Quintana has 2x2nd in the Tour and a 3rd, a Giro and Vuelta win, Itzulia, Tirreno, Catalunya and Romandie. And is only almost 27...

Andy had a terrible crash at age of 27.... of course quintana has a better palmares than andy but i still think that andy was a better climber and a better gc man than quintana

and a better descender too.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Even without his Tour win, Ulle was still a greater rider than Heras and Simoni. I think it's quite clear that Quintana is on another level than Andy.

Andy had 3x2nd in the Tour, 2nd in the Giro and a Liege win.
Quintana has 2x2nd in the Tour and a 3rd, a Giro and Vuelta win, Itzulia, Tirreno, Catalunya and Romandie. And is only almost 27...

Andy had a terrible crash at age of 27.... of course quintana has a better palmares than andy but i still think that andy was a better climber and a better gc man than quintana

GC-man? Quintana is a much more proven general classification rider than Andy ever was. Andy was a much better classics rider tho.