Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[SeriousSam]

I think Quintana is most likely to be able to keep up with Froome at the early MTFs, and I think he has a good chance to be the strongest climber at Alpe. But that won't be enough to win the Tour if nothing unforeseen and chaotic happens to make up the deficit.

*** stage 2.

 

[Vasilis]

Moviestar is probably the only GC contender who brings more mountain goat than classic specialist. On paper, they should do very well. Which bring a million dollar the question who will be the biggest looser on these fab 4? and plus BMC.

I count seven climbers for Sky, only six for Movistar. Although the ratio is more in favour of mountains, because they don't really have any real Classics riders.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Lot of great posts guys, Im just bumping the best imo.

I just want to see The Best vs The Best vs The Best vs The Best, nothing more.
Its only within 2 minutes, mountains will play a major role, thats great for our Nairoman.

yep, I predicted (before the TdF) that if he will be around 1.10 behind before the mountains he should win, but this is a bit more, I think he will fly in the mountains, but it will also depend on tactics because I seriously dont see him droping Froome on a 1 climb stage duhh...

Honestly I don't know if he can or not. I believe they were about equal in 2013, but Quintana is two years better now. The real question is was Quintana at his best in 2013, only gaining in tactical sense and confidence since, or is he an even bigger climber.

Right now I don't really care who wins, though I always prefer new blood, and having Quintana win would mean yet another first time TDF winner. What I really care about is seeing all out war between Quintana and Froome, and hopefully with Contador and Nibali in there for good measure.

The chance to see the best climbers of the last few years finally healthy racing against each other is far more exciting to me than anything else. Not to mention I just really want to know who's the best climber right now, as I honestly have no idea.

 

[AlexNYC]

Nairo still alive! It’s going to be difficult, but far from impossible in my opinion. Basically, Nairo has to be amazing and Froome needs a bad day and/or weakness in the third week.

 

[Jelantik]

Moviestar is probably the only GC contender who brings more mountain goat than classic specialist. On paper, they should do very well. Which bring a million dollar the question who will be the biggest looser on these fab 4? and plus BMC.

I count seven climbers for Sky, only six for Movistar. Although the ratio is more in favour of mountains, because they don't really have any real Classics riders.

I mean Movistar' climber is a real goat 6 of them can overtake whatever many climber other team has.

 

[Gigs_98]

I am so happy moviestar did good today. Quintana might be pretty far back but in any other gt he would loose about the same amount of time due to TT's, so I wouldn't panic. Now I just hope that he will crush froome in the mountains

 

[Jagartrott]

He looked perhaps best of the great-4. Yes, better than Froome because I think Froome has been very generous in his efforts while Quintana has been very low key. I expect much of him in the mountains and cannot believe Froome will keep it up for another 11 (12) stages.

 

[SeriousSam]

Quintana fans, what do you expect to happen at PSM? Personally, if Froome cannot drop him, I'm going to get excited. The market rates him as the only one of the Big 4 still capable to really challenge Froome.

I think Froome will be a bit stronger in the mountains than in 2013. Quintana should however have improved more.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Great TTT for him today. He's the real winner I think.

He has been low key, but that is probably a good thing. One bad day by Froome on a MTF and that difference is gone.

Nibs is done now.

I think if Froome takes any time on Tuesday from Contador, he's done too.

 

[Põhja Konn]

No doubt Froome will go full mutant on last climb on tuesday. Managing to withstand those attacks and staying with Froome, let alone countering and riding away himself, would give Nairo a small but important psychological advantage, despite Froomes seemingly comfortable lead. I hope Nairo is not the only one who can stay with Froome (assuming he actually can), as it would be way harder for Sky to control the race, when there are more than one serious dangerman to contain. Its close to impossible to take all that time back, if he is the only danger Sky have to worry about.

I don't believe Froome is much stronger than 2013, while Nairo should be at least as good as back then physically and much stronger mentally. The sheer number of mountain stages also speaks in favour of the Colombian as he doesn't need to take those two minutes in one or two stages and therefore is not forced to do crazy stunts starting from the very first mountain there is, and can play longer, more tactical game.

While Froome has looked the strongest thus far and is firmly in control, Movistars strenght today in TTT looked ominous and gives some hope for the rest of the Tour.

 

[phanatic]

Nairo and Valverde looked fresh as daisies at the finish today. It's really happening.

 

[damian13ster]

Re:

He looked perhaps best of the great-4. Yes, better than Froome because I think Froome has been very generous in his efforts while Quintana has been very low key. I expect much of him in the mountains and cannot believe Froome will keep it up for another 11 (12) stages.

So you are saying that Froome looked so amazing for entire Tour so far, that you can't believe it is possible to keep it up (so pretty damn amazing)?
And thats the reason why Quintana looked the best of top 4 (including Froome)?

Got to say, I love the logic

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

He looked perhaps best of the great-4. Yes, better than Froome because I think Froome has been very generous in his efforts while Quintana has been very low key. I expect much of him in the mountains and cannot believe Froome will keep it up for another 11 (12) stages.

So you are saying that Froome looked so amazing for entire Tour so far, that you can't believe it is possible to keep it up (so pretty damn amazing)?
And thats the reason why Quintana looked the best of top 4 (including Froome)?

Got to say, I love the logic

No, he said "Froome has been very generous in his efforts while Quintana has been very low key." He doesn't think Froome can keep riding as intensely for another 11 (12) stages.

I'm not saying I agree with him, just saying that logic makes plenty of sense.

 

[damian13ster]

Maybe, if he hasn't used past tense (that's why I bolded the word 'looked'). Might be a bit of a grammar police, but if it was in fact an error then it totally changed the meaning of the post, making it quite comical and plain wrong.

If he meant that Quintana might perform better in the rest of the Tour than Froome because it looked like he wasted less energy (which I agree with due to TTT in which he was given pretty much a free ride) then I won't argue against that, it is plausible. 2 minute loss is huge though for a rider with such a limited skillset though, and might be impossible to overcome.

 

[Jagartrott]

Yeah, I could've worded it better.
Froome looked very strong yesterday, but the effort looked very obvious (and I'm speculating it may cost him later), while Quintana looked like he just went for a training ride with his mates. Granted, he always looks like that a bit, but still I have a feeling he is growing in this Tour, and all the mountains are ahead. So that's why I thought Quintana looked best: effortless yesterday + growing in form.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

quintana won nearly 2 minutes to froome in the final 2 mountainstages of 2013 alone. we will see. but I'm very optimistic after this first week

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

quintana won nearly 2 minutes to froome in the final 2 mountainstages of 2013 alone. we will see. but I'm very optimistic after this first week

yep, me too, and if you were right 2 years ago in my sig (I think so), then we are in for the Battle Royal

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

Maybe, if he hasn't used past tense (that's why I bolded the word 'looked'). Might be a bit of a grammar police, but if it was in fact an error then it totally changed the meaning of the post, making it quite comical and plain wrong.

If he meant that Quintana might perform better in the rest of the Tour than Froome because it looked like he wasted less energy (which I agree with due to TTT in which he was given pretty much a free ride) then I won't argue against that, it is plausible. 2 minute loss is huge though for a rider with such a limited skillset though, and might be impossible to overcome.

lolz I would like my skillset to be limited to those 90vo2max

you are reallly funny guy

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Great TTT for him today. He's the real winner I think.

He has been low key, but that is probably a good thing. One bad day by Froome on a MTF and that difference is gone.

Nibs is done now.

I think if Froome takes any time on Tuesday from Contador, he's done too.

If Froome takes any time on Quintana tomorrow, he's done as well.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Great TTT for him today. He's the real winner I think.

He has been low key, but that is probably a good thing. One bad day by Froome on a MTF and that difference is gone.

Nibs is done now.

I think if Froome takes any time on Tuesday from Contador, he's done too.

If Froome takes any time on Quintana tomorrow, he's done as well.

Its obvious you can expect time loss of some 10 secs because of crazy sprint finish from Froome (+boni secs), I dont see how it can destroy Quitnana, when this is _______/ stage, but multiple climbs stages are still ahead of them.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Great TTT for him today. He's the real winner I think.

He has been low key, but that is probably a good thing. One bad day by Froome on a MTF and that difference is gone.

Nibs is done now.

I think if Froome takes any time on Tuesday from Contador, he's done too.

If Froome takes any time on Quintana tomorrow, he's done as well.

Its obvious you can expect time loss of some 10 secs because of crazy sprint finish from Froome (+boni secs), I dont see how it can destroy Quitnana, when this is _______/ stage, but multiple climbs stages are still ahead of them.

Sure, but Contador can expect that as well. If Contador is done if he loses time tomorrow, then surely Quintana is done as well if he loses time.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Great TTT for him today. He's the real winner I think.

He has been low key, but that is probably a good thing. One bad day by Froome on a MTF and that difference is gone.

Nibs is done now.

I think if Froome takes any time on Tuesday from Contador, he's done too.

If Froome takes any time on Quintana tomorrow, he's done as well.

Its obvious you can expect time loss of some 10 secs because of crazy sprint finish from Froome (+boni secs), I dont see how it can destroy Quitnana, when this is _______/ stage, but multiple climbs stages are still ahead of them.

Sure, but Contador can expect that as well. If Contador is done if he loses time tomorrow, then surely Quintana is done as well if he loses time.

yep, but you didnz write specifically how much time, thats why I aswered like that .If they'll lose more than 20 secs, then yes it might be over (or not )

 

[del1962]

Be interesting to see what Quintana does if he senses weakness in TJ and Bertie but not Froome tomorrow, will he try to take back time on them with Froome.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

quintana won nearly 2 minutes to froome in the final 2 mountainstages of 2013 alone. we will see. but I'm very optimistic after this first week

1:35 (1:06+0:29)
I'm optimistic as well but he has to be much stronger than 2013 to make up 2 minutes IMO.
Froome seems to be more prepared for the third week than he was in 2013.
Plus he didn't care about the seconds back then since the gap was much bigger and he might be more conservative with his riding style if he notices Quintana is a tough nut to crack.
Plus there are the transition stages. For the moment I foresee Froome to cope better in the stages of Gap and Mende compared to Quintana.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I also take in bonus seconds.

froome being stronger than 2013 seems no ground to be based on. quintana definitely is. froome will be empty just as he was in other final weeks'of gt's.