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Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

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Jelantik said:
i would put:
1. Quintana
2. J-rod
3. Porte
Yeah, hard to see anyone else on the podium unless something crazy happens, only Horner with his Vuelta form could crash this party.

Will be interesting to see how Quintana goes on his new TT bike too. The switch from Focus to Canyon did wonders for Purito, so will be interesting to see if the Canyon is that much better than the Pinarello.

Movistar's increased TT focus should pay dividends as well, they were already one of the 3-4 best TTT teams (I'd say 3rd after OPQS and a full strength OGE) so Sky could be starting on the back foot immediately.
 
42x16ss said:
Movistar's increased TT focus should pay dividends as well, they were already one of the 3-4 best TTT teams (I'd say 3rd after OPQS and a full strength OGE) so Sky could be starting on the back foot immediately.

Yeah but Sky also go well in TTT's- 1st in the Giro, 3rd at the Tour and 3rd at the WC- all better results than Movistar in these races/ very big events.
 
Jan 8, 2013
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press conference

Nairo had a press conference before leaving to the Giro.

http://www.revistamundociclistico.com/ruta/16378-es-posible-sonar-que-ganamos-el-giro-de-italia-nairo-quintana.html

This is the first time, at least for me, that I have seen someone name each rival and go over where they are publicly. He states how each is dangerous and how he has to be alert of each one. He names the races they did, the placing they did, accidents they had, etc..

"We all saw how Cadel did at Trentino, much better than most. Watching how he pulled the peloton on his own when isolated and finishing with the leaders without losing time.".

"Joaquim had two falls in the Ardenas, but looks like it was not significant and he is very strong physically. He will be my toughest rival and he also knows that I am also one of the favorites".

"Pozzovivo was very strong in Trentino, he is a great climber and finished in the top 5 in LBL".

"Uran is getting stronger. He has done some really good races, we did Tirreno and I saw how strong he was while helping his team leader".

"Arredondo is another Colombian to watch, very strong showing his form in the Ardenas as well."
 
Jul 19, 2010
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42x16ss said:
Isn't Uran doing the Tour? I thought QuickStep (the sponsor) were putting pressure on the team for a TdF top 10?

Afrank said:
Nope, think that was the original plan, but changed them. Targeting Giro now.

They got cavendish. And he wanted Green Jersey. So there's no way they can divide the team for Uran in the mountain. Uran with all team dedicated for him for mountain at Giro is better than Uran with no helper in mountain at TDF
 
Apr 27, 2012
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Yesterday came to my mind a possible fluke in Quintana´s almost absolute status as favorite for this Giro: allergies! Do you think it's too much far fetched, or a real possibility that he suffers from it specially if it's all about good weather in Italy? Actually, he very seldom rode through spring in Europe. Last year he went to Colombia after Ardennes, and in 2012 the only race he did was Vuelta a Madrid where he came 2nd in not a great field loosing 2'11'' to Sergey Firsanov.

In a 2013 piece about him after Ardennes it goes like this: "Quintana admitted he suffered through the Ardennes classics, struck by allergies and what he called stomach problems, but the 5-foot-7 climber said he liked what he saw in his first attempt at the hilly classics.
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/04/ ... CLTpJ0S.99"

Can't take any conclusion. Only that's a possibility... What do you think, is this enough to put Purito as the favourite for this Giro?
 
oliveira said:
Yesterday came to my mind a possible fluke in Quintana´s almost absolute status as favorite for this Giro: allergies! Do you think it's too much far fetched, or a real possibility that he suffers from it specially if it's all about good weather in Italy? Actually, he very seldom rode through spring in Europe. Last year he went to Colombia after Ardennes, and in 2012 the only race he did was Vuelta a Madrid where he came 2nd in not a great field loosing 2'11'' to Sergey Firsanov.

In a 2013 piece about him after Ardennes it goes like this: "Quintana admitted he suffered through the Ardennes classics, struck by allergies and what he called stomach problems, but the 5-foot-7 climber said he liked what he saw in his first attempt at the hilly classics.
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/04/ ... CLTpJ0S.99"

Can't take any conclusion. Only that's a possibility... What do you think, is this enough to put Purito as the favourite for this Giro?

I hope NOT:eek: Otherwise he & the team would have opted easily to do the Tour.
 
hmmmm

According to an interview after the stage, Nairo claimed he "didn't have the legs" today to attack or do anything at all- perhaps is a consequence of the crash and the bruises, but at the same time i'm thinking it could be the "lack of racing" prior to Il Giro that might be playing part of his poor performance......

it doesn't look good to me, i must confess...
 
hfer07 said:
According to an interview after the stage, Nairo claimed he "didn't have the legs" today to attack or do anything at all- perhaps is a consequence of the crash and the bruises, but at the same time i'm thinking it could be the "lack of racing" prior to Il Giro that might be playing part of his poor performance......

it doesn't look good to me, i must confess...

I'm not concerned. He can only get better and heal a bit from his crash injuries. He wasn't dropped and actually took 2 seconds back from Evans.
 
Aug 16, 2011
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Angliru said:
I'm not concerned. He can only get better and heal a bit from his crash injuries. He wasn't dropped and actually took 2 seconds back from Evans.

Sorry to say, but 2 seconds means nothing. Especially when he's already almost 2 minutes back.
 
Afrank said:
Sorry to say, but 2 seconds means nothing. Especially when he's already almost 2 minutes back.

On the first real mtf of grand tours some gc contenders sometimes have trouble only to get their legs back on the following mountainous stage. Basso at the 2005 Tour on the Courcheval stage comes to mind.
 
Aug 4, 2010
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Dazed and Confused said:
I wouldn't be worried about Quintana just yet, the Giro will be settled in the last week for sure.

But I would be concerned about the strength of Movistar's team. Looks like the B team to me.
Exactly my thoughts.
hfer07 said:
According to an interview after the stage, Nairo claimed he "didn't have the legs" today to attack or do anything at all- perhaps is a consequence of the crash and the bruises, but at the same time i'm thinking it could be the "lack of racing" prior to Il Giro that might be playing part of his poor performance......

it doesn't look good to me, i must confess...
This is right imo,but it should be fine by next week,only limit losses in first TT and then start to ride away from others


Keep calm
and
believe in

Nairo-Quintana-y-Ur%C3%A1n-al-frente-del-pelot%C3%B3n-colombiano-617x410.jpg
 
Aug 4, 2010
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This deserves to be here:D
Afrank said:
Quintana will destroy everyone that get's in his way as he climbs like and angel to every single MTF win. Evans, Uran, and everyone else think they have known pain, but they don't know real pain until they faced off against Nairito. He will put everyone into such oxygen debt through his many epic solo attacks that they will beg for mercy until they finally collapse off their bikes mid stage in exhaustion. While everyone's legs are turning inside out Nairito will be ascending the slopes of Italy like Pantani every time the road goes uphill. 10.0 W/kg, breaking every climbs record, and making guys like Merckx and Hinault look like over hyped neo-pros. It will be domination on a scale never seen before.

I am 100% serious with this post. :cool:
 
Aug 16, 2011
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ILovecycling said:
Keep calm
and
believe in

Nairo-Quintana-y-Ur%C3%A1n-al-frente-del-pelot%C3%B3n-colombiano-617x410.jpg

Hmm, Quintana's reaction upon seeing the could Cadel win the Giro thread? :p

I believe, Allez Nairito. Go give us 10.0 W/kg and begin your reign! Nice signature BTW. ;)
 
Jul 19, 2010
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So far Quintana isn't firing all cylinders yet. Either he got affected by the crash or he wasn't coming around with his form yet, maybe on the 3rd week. He's been hiding for the first week. I'm always nervous with rider planning to coming to form on the last week, because sometimes, the gap can be quite large and it would be too much or too late to try to close it. I'm not writing him off yet, but I was expected more happening from him before first ITT stage. We'll see how his form on his firs ITT.,

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/quintana_i_hope_it_was_just_a_bad_day/
 
Jul 19, 2010
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Geraint Too Fast said:
If Quintana's was really suffering he wouldn't be letting his rivals know all about it. He's saving himself for the final week, and this is just his excuse for following wheels until then.

or maybe he is just saying it as is.. :D