Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[WheelofGear]

Re:

I feel like some people want to like him, he just makes it hard for others to root for him. That’s me. I’d love to see him tear it up. I’d cheer for him. He just don’t do it much. Personally I think that’s where a lot of the “harshness” comes from.

For me, he is a very uncharacteristic rider. Great climber but without any twists and turns. It's like rooting for Porte, another boring but strong climber.

In terms on racing, I'm definitely #TeamLanda.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Re:

I feel like some people want to like him, he just makes it hard for others to root for him. That’s me. I’d love to see him tear it up. I’d cheer for him. He just don’t do it much. Personally I think that’s where a lot of the “harshness” comes from.

I feel the same way. He looked really good before the Giro. He annoyed the hell out of me the last 2-3 years with his cautious riding but i think the kick is still there...

 

[Koronin]

Nibali has always been a bit inconsistent.
Yes Valverde and Quintana are totally different type of riders, Quintana is supposed to be a Grand Tour specialist while Valverde is the definition of an all rounder and may be more of a classics specialist than anything else.
Quintana does make it hard for a lot of us to cheer for him. Wanted to like him and cheer for him, but there's something missing.
In terms of pure racing I'm also #teamLanda

 

[Tonton]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

I feel like some people want to like him, he just makes it hard for others to root for him. That’s me. I’d love to see him tear it up. I’d cheer for him. He just don’t do it much. Personally I think that’s where a lot of the “harshness” comes from.

I think expectations on him to entertain are too high, resulting in people feeling let down by him. The reality is that he does a serious all-in, race splitting, attack from 50+km out pretty much every GT that he rides; and has won two GTs already thanks to those attacks. How many other GT contenders can say the same? Quintana is more aggressive than nearly all of them.

There seems to be some expectation that he should be lighting up every mountain stage and putting everyone to the sword day after day as soon as the road tilts up, which just isn't realistic in the modern era. At least not if you want to win GTs.

Your first paragraph is fair enough I guess.

Yes he has won 2 gt's...that's great, but....If he is to win more grand tours, it will have to be by lighting it up. He can't time trial. He will have to go "crazy" in the mountains. If he can't do that, he should just go for stage wins and the polka dot jersey.

Maybe that's "expecting to much." It is for an ordinary rider. It isn't for a pure climber who wants to win grand tours.

 

[bambino]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

The reason I'm hesitant of Dumoulin and believe top shape Quintana way more is that Dumoulin hasn't been proven against the #1 GT competitive tactic of this era - being the train. And I don't think we will see that proven even in this year Giro. NQ has proved he can win stages even against the train.

In last year Giro it was really man against man, where Nibs and NQ had to make the time against Tom alone and they were not in shape to do that. Tom paced himself perfectly to limit losses, but I do not think his reserves to pace himself to train level speed on multi 10km climb on a stage and in consecutive stages is enough. He would have to constantly glimb on his steady pace limit or even above it and I feel he would be dropped like a stone eventually. I guess that is one of the reasons why he selected Giro for this year.

NQ on the other hand can't be dropped by anyone if in top shape. But he doesn't seem to really have the real kick anymore either to take off when really needed.

Tour this year will be really interesting because if Froome is not there, we might actually see some other team than Sky deploying train... thinking of Bahrain with Izaguirre brothers, Delphino and Pozzo supporting Nibs. They will try to dry the powder of NQ and Landa.

 

[Jspear]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

The reason I'm hesitant of Dumoulin and believe top shape Quintana way more is that Dumoulin hasn't been proven against the #1 GT competitive tactic of this era - being the train. And I don't think we will see that proven even in this year Giro. NQ has proved he can win stages even against the train.

In last year Giro it was really man against man, where Nibs and NQ had to make the time against Tom alone and they were not in shape to do that. Tom paced himself perfectly to limit losses, but I do not think his reserves to pace himself to train level speed on multi 10km climb on a stage and in consecutive stages is enough. He would have to constantly glimb on his steady pace limit or even above it and I feel he would be dropped like a stone eventually. I guess that is one of the reasons why he selected Giro for this year.

NQ on the other hand can't be dropped by anyone if in top shape. But he doesn't seem to really have the real kick anymore either to take off when really needed.

Tour this year will be really interesting because if Froome is not there, we might actually see some other team than Sky deploying train... thinking of Bahrain with Izaguirre brothers, Delphino and Pozzo supporting Nibs. They will try to dry the powder of NQ and Landa.

Wow. You saying this makes me realize Bahrain has quickly become a strong team.

 

[bambino]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

The reason I'm hesitant of Dumoulin and believe top shape Quintana way more is that Dumoulin hasn't been proven against the #1 GT competitive tactic of this era - being the train. And I don't think we will see that proven even in this year Giro. NQ has proved he can win stages even against the train.

In last year Giro it was really man against man, where Nibs and NQ had to make the time against Tom alone and they were not in shape to do that. Tom paced himself perfectly to limit losses, but I do not think his reserves to pace himself to train level speed on multi 10km climb on a stage and in consecutive stages is enough. He would have to constantly glimb on his steady pace limit or even above it and I feel he would be dropped like a stone eventually. I guess that is one of the reasons why he selected Giro for this year.

NQ on the other hand can't be dropped by anyone if in top shape. But he doesn't seem to really have the real kick anymore either to take off when really needed.

Tour this year will be really interesting because if Froome is not there, we might actually see some other team than Sky deploying train... thinking of Bahrain with Izaguirre brothers, Delphino and Pozzo supporting Nibs. They will try to dry the powder of NQ and Landa.

Wow. You saying this makes me realize Bahrain has quickly become a strong team.

They indeed have. Add potentially Navardauskas (if he finds the shape again), Haussler and Sitsou - and they have pretty scary team in all terrains, from TTT to flat rouling to cobbles to climbs.

 

[movingtarget]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

if Quintana doesn't win the Tour this year, his critics will be lining up. It will be a case of if not now when, especially if Froome doesn't ride. For Nibali it could be his last chance to win a Tour on a course that should suit him. For Landa a chance for bragging rights at Movistar and to break through in a GT. For Porte once again to answer the critics and reach the podium. Dan Martin will be looking for better after his last two Tours. Bardet and Uran will be extremely motivated and so on. With or without Froome this should be a great Tour for many reasons as there are more reasons this year for many of the GC riders not to take the conservative approach and take risks. If Froome does ride there will be more pressure than usual, maybe not to win the race but public perception and the views from some of the riders may be a factor not to mention the harassing nature of the media when they sense a story or a developing one, plus he has lost two of his best mountain domestiques. The fans look set for an entertaining three weeks.

 

[DFA123]

If someone can dial in for anything, Nibali for a Giro is a given IMO. And the 100th...a shot at immortality. He too never believed that Dumoulin could pull it, that Quintana is a lesser ITT performer, played it conservative, nowing that a move on the stage 16 descent could be enough to ice the cake.

I don't believe in all the excuses for Nibali and Quintana.I think that Dumoulin was really good, they missed their opportunities.Mared each other: stages 18-19 show it afaik.

The argument about the lack of love for Quintana is a joke: most want Froome to lose, he was and may still be the only hope.

I believe in Dumoulin. Quintana? 2018 will be huge for him. One way or the other...

I think the counter argument against this is that in that last week it wasn't that it was just Dumoulin who was limiting losses fairly comfortably. Zakarin and Pinot were taking time on Nibali and Quintana. You could argue that was because they marked each other, but I think by the last two stages they realised they had to work together, and still looked weak. At one stage Reichenbach effortlessly hauled in a Quintana attack and pretty much spat him out the back. Pozzovivo dropped Nibali at one point. Even on the last stage, the likes of Jungels and Yates were so close at the summit, that they could haul them back on the flat. Those things don't happen to Nibali or Quintana if they are anywhere near their best.

 

[Amsterdam]

What races is Nairo gonna ride after Colombia and before the Tour and Vuelta?

 

[Koronin]

What races is Nairo gonna ride after Colombia and before the Tour and Vuelta?

Movistar hasn't released anyone schedule for the season yet so we don't know. Movistar has only said Quintana to race Colombia and Tour, Landa Andalucia and Tour, Valverde Mallorca, Valencia, Murica Tour. Valverde has stated he's also racing Catalunya, Basque, Ardennes (possibly Andalucia), basically he wants the same schedule he had last year. However it his highly unlikely he races any of the Spanish races. From what's coming from Movistar (along with things Landa and Valverde have said) Landa and Valverde are racing the Spanish races along with Paris-Nice. Meaning Quintana might be racing Tirreno-Adriadico.

 

[Koronin]

According to an article in a Spanish cycling publication Quintana is going to Tirreno-Adriadico this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

According to an article in a Spanish cycling publication Quintana is going to Tirreno-Adriadico this year.

No surprise there, though the route suits him considerably less than this year

 

[Tonton]

if Quintana doesn't win the Tour this year, his critics will be lining up. It will be a case of if not now when, especially if Froome doesn't ride. For Nibali it could be his last chance to win a Tour on a course that should suit him. For Landa a chance for bragging rights at Movistar and to break through in a GT. For Porte once again to answer the critics and reach the podium. Dan Martin will be looking for better after his last two Tours. Bardet and Uran will be extremely motivated and so on. With or without Froome this should be a great Tour for many reasons as there are more reasons this year for many of the GC riders not to take the conservative approach and take risks. If Froome does ride there will be more pressure than usual, maybe not to win the race but public perception and the views from some of the riders may be a factor not to mention the harassing nature of the media when they sense a story or a developing one, plus he has lost two of his best mountain domestiques. The fans look set for an entertaining three weeks.

I hope that you are right. Call me pessimistic if you want, but with so many riders at pretty much the same level, I'm afraid that defensive riding will prevail, no one but Nibali (Landa?) wanting to burn their cartridges.

 

[Koronin]

if Quintana doesn't win the Tour this year, his critics will be lining up. It will be a case of if not now when, especially if Froome doesn't ride. For Nibali it could be his last chance to win a Tour on a course that should suit him. For Landa a chance for bragging rights at Movistar and to break through in a GT. For Porte once again to answer the critics and reach the podium. Dan Martin will be looking for better after his last two Tours. Bardet and Uran will be extremely motivated and so on. With or without Froome this should be a great Tour for many reasons as there are more reasons this year for many of the GC riders not to take the conservative approach and take risks. If Froome does ride there will be more pressure than usual, maybe not to win the race but public perception and the views from some of the riders may be a factor not to mention the harassing nature of the media when they sense a story or a developing one, plus he has lost two of his best mountain domestiques. The fans look set for an entertaining three weeks.

I hope that you are right. Call me pessimistic if you want, but with so many riders at pretty much the same level, I'm afraid that defensive riding will prevail, no one but Nibali (Landa?) wanting to burn their cartridges.

If they ride to defensively they could easily hand the Tour win to Valverde as he can pick up seconds in sprinting to the finish. Then to fill out the podium you'd end up with Nibali and Martin as they have the next fastest sprints. That's if this is what it becomes and it's a possibility.

 

[Jspear]

if Quintana doesn't win the Tour this year, his critics will be lining up. It will be a case of if not now when, especially if Froome doesn't ride. For Nibali it could be his last chance to win a Tour on a course that should suit him. For Landa a chance for bragging rights at Movistar and to break through in a GT. For Porte once again to answer the critics and reach the podium. Dan Martin will be looking for better after his last two Tours. Bardet and Uran will be extremely motivated and so on. With or without Froome this should be a great Tour for many reasons as there are more reasons this year for many of the GC riders not to take the conservative approach and take risks. If Froome does ride there will be more pressure than usual, maybe not to win the race but public perception and the views from some of the riders may be a factor not to mention the harassing nature of the media when they sense a story or a developing one, plus he has lost two of his best mountain domestiques. The fans look set for an entertaining three weeks.

I hope that you are right. Call me pessimistic if you want, but with so many riders at pretty much the same level, I'm afraid that defensive riding will prevail, no one but Nibali (Landa?) wanting to burn their cartridges.

If they ride to defensively they could easily hand the Tour win to Valverde as he can pick up seconds in sprinting to the finish. Then to fill out the podium you'd end up with Nibali and Martin as they have the next fastest sprints. That's if this is what it becomes and it's a possibility.

Yeah. That wouldn’t happen. Nibali will be too strong and this year he has a stronger team.

 

[liamito]

Does he also ride Abu Dhabi again?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Does he also ride Abu Dhabi again?

I don't think he does, nor do I hope it. Its a pretty useless race - 3 and a half stages of sitting on wheels in the peloton through the dessert and a 20-30 min MTF, the only actual training. Its just not worth going to in my opinion for Quintana when you consider all the travelling as well, he would be better of doing just Oro and Paz ahead of T-A and maybe fit a Spanish race in before as well, Andalucia, for example. But maybe the sponsor want him to go, I don't know.

 

[Escarabajo]

De did Abu Dhabi last year because of the Giro participation. Without the Giro this year I don't think he will go to this race.

 

[Escarabajo]

Does anybody have any news on his schedule?
I am kind of puzzled now that he hasn't lined up in the early races.
It would not surprise me if he shows up in one of the northern races like he did in 2015.

 

[Koronin]

Supposedly he's going to Catalonia with Valverde and Soler.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Supposedly he's going to Catalonia with Valverde and Soler.

And Pais Vasco afterwards with Landa. He will probably also race Romandie, I think. And then if I have to guess Suisse before TdF (admittedly, this is what I hope).

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Supposedly he's going to Catalonia with Valverde and Soler.

And Pais Vasco afterwards with Landa. He will probably also race Romandie, I think. And then if I have to guess Suisse before TdF (admittedly, this is what I hope).

I'd also say he won't be race leader for either of the races. Valverde (esp with his current form) will be race leader for Catalonia, and Landa for Pais Vasco (esp since that's his home race).

 

[Escarabajo]

Ok. Thanks. I saw the starting list of Catalunya but wasn't sure if he would show up somewhere before that race.

Staying longer at altitude.