Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[roundabout]

It actually does.

It shows that Valverde did not really do much to setup his teammates.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

It actually does.

It shows that Valverde did not really do much to setup his teammates.

He also took a significant turn on the Col de Chevrères.

Of course he didn't empty himself in the lead, but I still don't see this as proof of anything in the "not-wanting-to-take-part-in-the-race" department.

 

[Tonton]

It's way to early to draw any conclusion, but Nairo doesn't look too sharp. We'll see.

 

[Rollthedice]

It's way to early to draw any conclusion, but Nairo doesn't look too sharp. We'll see.

He's as sharp as ever when there's a wheel in front.

 

[The Barb]

It's way to early to draw any conclusion, but Nairo doesn't look too sharp. We'll see.

I don't know, I was quite encouraged by his performance today.

In his best previous Tours (2013 and 2015) he lost significant time on the first mountain stage but by the final mountain top finish was putting decent time into everyone, including Froome.

I still hold out hope that we will see that old Nairo return in the third week (although it does feel like a long time ago now).

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

He wasted the efforts of his team today is the only thing I saw.

He did better than expected TBH.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

He wasted the efforts of his team today is the only thing I saw.

He did better than expected TBH.

He could have finished exactly as he did without wasting the energy of his teammates. I don't think this bodes well for later in the race.

 

[Escarabajo]

Koronin, you are just in bad mood because Valverde didn't try to go for GC. Don't blame Nairo for that now. And the story that he did look like he doesn't want to be here doesn't make sense. He came to this Tour for what he did for Nairo and Landa today.

 

[Ripper]

I'd say that Lemond as been fairly correct about NQ in that he lacks explosiveness and spends too much time doing the same thing at altitude every year. Perhaps this year will be different, but I'm not getting any vibes yet to suggest Nairo the diesel will be able to must a leg crushing attack.

 

[dastott]

Re: Re:

He wasted the efforts of his team today is the only thing I saw.

I don't know - he did well considering the question marks regarding his form and that steep walls like the end aren't his strong suit.

He is the smallest and lightest of the GC men so why wouldn't a steep wall suit him?

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Koronin, you are just in bad mood because Valverde didn't try to go for GC. Don't blame Nairo for that now. And the story that he did look like he doesn't want to be here doesn't make sense. He came to this Tour for what he did for Nairo and Landa today.

I'm fine with him not going for GC. However, the fact he totally wasted energy today along with his teammates is just flat one of the stupidest things a team can do to their riders. They put their team on the front and it was totally worthless to have done so. I just hope Bala ends up losing enough time the other teams will let him go in a break so can go stage hunting. Because we just saw today that they aren't winning this race. Quintana did nothing and said something about they just didn't want to lose time. If that's the goal, then do NOT put your team on the front and have them use energy for literally no good reason at all. The energy wasted today by the other members of the team WILL come back and bite them later.

 

[Escarabajo]

The problem is that I don't think Quintana is making any of those calls in the team now. That was probably 100% the coaches or Unzue.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

The problem is that I don't think Quintana is making any of those calls in the team now. That was probably 100% the coaches or Unzue.

Their stupidity today by wasting too much energy is very, very likely going to bite them hard later in the race.

 

[movingtarget]

I thought Quintana's ride was quite good.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

The problem is that I don't think Quintana is making any of those calls in the team now. That was probably 100% the coaches or Unzue.

Their stupidity today by wasting too much energy is very, very likely going to bite them hard later in the race.

Movistar rode well today - They took it up to Ineos and got a decent result - The nature of this climb is you need to ride it hard from the bottom to make time gaps.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

The problem is that I don't think Quintana is making any of those calls in the team now. That was probably 100% the coaches or Unzue.

Their stupidity today by wasting too much energy is very, very likely going to bite them hard later in the race.

Movistar rode well today - They took it up to Ineos and got a decent result - The nature of this climb is you need to ride it hard from the bottom to make time gaps.

But that's just it they did NOT get anything for their efforts. They managed to HELP Thomas. Movistar wasted energy and they will pay for it later. What they did today will bite them later in this race when they actually need someone and he's not there because of the wasted energy from today.

 

[tobydawq]

Oh my, it's difficult being a Tour team.

Passivity is condemned by all.

Now initiative is also labelled pure stupidity and waste of energy and the sure doom of the team.

Koronin, this is stage 6. There is a week until the next mountain stage. I really don't think this will have any negative consequences at all...

 

[Simurgh]

Re: Re:

He wasted the efforts of his team today is the only thing I saw.

I don't know - he did well considering the question marks regarding his form and that steep walls like the end aren't his strong suit.

He is the smallest and lightest of the GC men so why wouldn't a steep wall suit him?

Because he isn't explosive like Alaphilippe (not a GC man though), Valverde or Purito. Not an expert on this, but while low weight certainly helps when going uphill, it also matters that you are strong when doing short efforts. The three I mentioned can all do quick accelerations, have good sprints (e.g. Pinot) and can push very, very strongly in shorter efforts. Not to say that Quintana is a diesel like Kruijswijk or Buchmann, but he is one of the less explosive GC riders, which the stage 7 result reflects.

 

[Simurgh]

Re: Re:

He wasted the efforts of his team today is the only thing I saw.

I don't know - he did well considering the question marks regarding his form and that steep walls like the end aren't his strong suit. The Landa attack was as much tactics as it was him getting an opportunity. Valverde in domestique duty, he would perhaps do better if not, but since the stage win was all but sure to be decided by the breakaway, a top 10 placing doesn't matter for Valverde. Whatever energy expended today by Movistar, it won't affect them in the rest of the Tour, I'm sure.

In my opinion, we again saw terrible tactics by Movistar and again saw Quintana unable to do anything with what was set up. The only thing they did was show that Ineos isn't invulnerable this year with their train. However, I also think that means we're going to see at lot more breaks win stages. As for Valverde, he looks like he doesn't really want to be there.

Yesterday's tactics can be questioned, but I think that it also depends on what their objective was. If it was expose the fragility of the train, I think it partly worked. It isn't as strong as the SKY-trains of previous years. Now I have read, that Nairo said that today's goal was not to lose time, and so I do understand the dissatisfaction. Why then take the lead and put on pressure on the peloton, especially in a climb that doesn't really suit him? If it was to put out a statement, that they won't repeat last years failure and that they will actually risk podium placings and the team classification for a chance for victory, I think it had an impact.

Either way I strongly disagree with the notion, that the energy expended today by Movistar will be paid dearly later in the race - there are 2 flat stages and 2 hilly stages (which will with great probability be contested by the breakaway) before the rest day on Tuesday, and the first mountain stage is on Thursday. I dare say, that they will be fine!

 

[starlord]

Re:

I thought Quintana's ride was quite good.

Agreed, I think it was very good

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

The problem is that I don't think Quintana is making any of those calls in the team now. That was probably 100% the coaches or Unzue.

Their stupidity today by wasting too much energy is very, very likely going to bite them hard later in the race.

No ***? They spent 30-40 km on the front and they are doomed for entire Tour, right? Very weak team then...

 

[Koronin]

Today gets caught out of position and has to have 3-4 teammates drop back to chase to get him back into the peloton.

 

[Sestriere]

I'm sure that's the reason why Valverde did not win the stage.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

I'm sure that's the reason why Valverde did not win the stage.

Fairly sure Valverde doesn't typically get involved in full field sprints anymore. He wasn't one of the ones that went back to get Quintana. He stayed with Landa.

 

[Tonton]

I liked the piece on CN about Quintana (Philippa York?) and how uncomfortable it must be to have to prove and earn being a leader in your own team before projecting to being the boss on the road. Movistar is not working for him, methinks.

As for Valverde, one of the next two could be his, if ridden hard.