Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[rm7]

I'm no Quintana fan at all, but people should really give him a break.

1) He has never been as good a climber as Froome or Contador in top shape - that's simply a fact. If anyone is saying otherwise they're simply lying to them selves.
2) BUT, the guy is only 25 now!!! A young rider vs peak Froome / little below peak(post 2012) Contador. It would be huge if he was at their level already. Nobody knows how he'll develop over the next 2-3 year, maybe he can reach their level.
3) People expect young riders to progress very fast. I don't think Quintana atm is better than he was in Tour 2013, but again - he only rode Route de Sud, so I think he'll reach a higher level in the 3rd week.

He'll win more GT's, but i'm not sure if he'll win the Tour - it will depend on the route and competetion. But I don't think he'll go down as one of the greats. With this new type of Tour de France without much ITT, he could have a good chance if he can improve his climbing.

 

[orangerider]

Re:

But even with him being only 25 years old, I wonder whether his very best climbing will ever be a full minute quicker for today's climb than it is now. Seems hard to believe.

Usually natural climbers only get slower going uphill when trying to improve their TT skills over the years. It's the other way around with TT specialists.

 

[Pulp]

Re:

I was disappointed today, but not by Quintana's performance. He did not crack; Sky was, to put it mildly, too much. I mean, seriously, Geraint Thomas beat Contador, Nibali, etc.

Come on... Tony Gallopin also beat Contador & Nibali etc today... Normally you would say that neither G or Gallopin are favorites to beat AC on a climb, but both have shown superior form so far this tour & none of them rode the Giro (where AC also looked tired in the end). So that result was maybe not expected, but hardly shocking.

And more about Nibbs: 20 riders beat him today. Even Janse Van Rensburg even beat Nibali today ffs! I`m also impressed by Gerraint Thomas, make no mistake, but today, & in context of how strong he has been so far this tour, him beating a Nibbs that was dropped up the Muur the Bretagne wasn`t a shock, more as expected.

 

[damian13ster]

Re:

I think Quintana performed very well today, it was the first day of the mountains right off a rest day and as you saw in the race, the mountain actually beat everyone, not Froome. In tactics, Movistar held it up till the climb and Valverde did what he does best, disrupt, explode and attack to rattle everyone. Froome was tucked away as always by his team, which were following Movistars slipstream all day. Froome has incredible explosive power and he had that stored and ready to use. Quintana was the only one who could follow, everyone cracked (even Porte until he got a second wind). What I figure is, why on earth would Quintana explode and follow Froome knowing that tomorrow and for the next 10 days there are going to be climbs as big if not bigger? Froome physically cannot do what he did today on every stage that follows. Quintana and Movistar were smart to get Froome to expose himself and his abilities, but again, in reality, no way can he hold those abilities through all the mountain stages. I'm waiting to see more of Valverdes early mountain attacks and prep Quintana for his attack, which he will, and he will at Froome weak point. Quintana will gain time, there is no doubt about it.

Valverde was terrific today. He attacked, held himself back while riding in the wind, clearly looking at Quintana to join, got caught, then rode away again, constantly off the front and looking at Nairo.
Movistar set it up perfectly for Colombian. He failed. Porte getting to him and then dropping him like a stone was an icing on the cake. Wish Valverde would just ride for himself to gain more time over other podium contenders.

 

[sienna]

Re:

I think Quintana performed very well today, it was the first day of the mountains right off a rest day and as you saw in the race, the mountain actually beat everyone, not Froome. In tactics, Movistar held it up till the climb and Valverde did what he does best, disrupt, explode and attack to rattle everyone. Froome was tucked away as always by his team, which were following Movistars slipstream all day. Froome has incredible explosive power and he had that stored and ready to use. Quintana was the only one who could follow, everyone cracked (even Porte until he got a second wind). What I figure is, why on earth would Quintana explode and follow Froome knowing that tomorrow and for the next 10 days there are going to be climbs as big if not bigger? Froome physically cannot do what he did today on every stage that follows. Quintana and Movistar were smart to get Froome to expose himself and his abilities, but again, in reality, no way can he hold those abilities through all the mountain stages. I'm waiting to see more of Valverdes early mountain attacks and prep Quintana for his attack, which he will, and he will at Froome weak point. Quintana will gain time, there is no doubt about it.

That's one way of interpreting what happened today - who knows what's going on in his body and head - his face gives nothing away. Having said that I wish him well for the rest of the Tour.

 

[dacooley]

nairito should be fine come to the alps. i expect him to make serious harm on froome.

 

[cellardoor]

Look how Nibali plateaued for a number of years before taking a big step forward with his climbing a couple of years ago. At present, he does look more or less the same as 2013 level, but I think it's still possible for him to step it up as he comes into his best GT years (27 onwards). What I would like to see from Quintana in this race is some evidence that he has more to him armory than what we've seen so far, which makes him look a bit one-dimensional. Perhaps an attack on a penultimate climb would be interesting.

 

[aarononymous]

30 seconds to a minute taken back would be awesome tomorrow, heck any positive gain if only 10 seconds.

 

[ray j willings]

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

what are you crying? you are a know quintana-hater so why do you care?

quintana will wait and focus on the final week. already today sky were pretty f'd with porte sucking and pretty much everyone except thomas and froome, while movistar had 4 guys.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

what are you crying? you are a know quintana-hater so why do you care?

quintana will wait and focus on the final week. already today sky were pretty f'd with porte sucking and pretty much everyone except thomas and froome, while movistar had 4 guys.

how could you comment yesterday's stage?

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

what are you crying? you are a know quintana-hater so why do you care?

quintana will wait and focus on the final week. already today sky were pretty f'd with porte sucking and pretty much everyone except thomas and froome, while movistar had 4 guys.

To be fair Porte didn't sucked at all.He was forced to work more because the other Sky riders sucked and he cracked only in the last part.Anyway Movistar is looking good the race is still on.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Sky will have more guys than Movistar towards the finish tomorrow.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Re: Re:

Quintana's performance today was not good at all IMO. I expected more from him.
He lost 64 seconds in 6.4 km i.e 10 seconds per km, and the gradients of those last 6.4km are really average (8 6 3.5 5.5 5.1 7.1). Considering Ax3 last 5 km are much harder gradient-wise and the facts that it was preceded by Port de Pailheres and that Quintana was alone in the wind in Pailheres ascent and descent, Quintana's performance today doesn't differ that much from Ax3 Domaines 2013.

But today was the worst mountain stage for Quintana, and compared to pure climbers, the best for Froome, and Quintana losed time in the soft part of the climb as you say, so he must be optimistic. Today Froome put a minute on him, but he can put one minute other day.
.

I don't agree with your logic Taxus. If someone is able to gap you 10sec/km in 5% in a mountain stage, he gaps you more than 10 sec/km in 8%

Steeper climbs favor Quintana because he has to just go against Gravity due to less weight but less steep climbs will favor Froome as he can put more power to counter air Resistance.

 

[Campervan man]

Re: Re:

Quintana's performance today was not good at all IMO. I expected more from him.
He lost 64 seconds in 6.4 km i.e 10 seconds per km, and the gradients of those last 6.4km are really average (8 6 3.5 5.5 5.1 7.1). Considering Ax3 last 5 km are much harder gradient-wise and the facts that it was preceded by Port de Pailheres and that Quintana was alone in the wind in Pailheres ascent and descent, Quintana's performance today doesn't differ that much from Ax3 Domaines 2013.

But today was the worst mountain stage for Quintana, and compared to pure climbers, the best for Froome, and Quintana losed time in the soft part of the climb as you say, so he must be optimistic. Today Froome put a minute on him, but he can put one minute other day.
.

I feel the Tours been done, however I'd still like some excitement and seeing as I'm watching week 3 in France I'd love Nairo to take the win. So I'm prepared to bet on him before I leave, questions this really. Should I bet now and get best available odds or wait until after tomorrow and see if the odds stretch out futhur. Any opinions are welcome.
I can see Nairo doing well tomorrow as its a third mountain day in a row and that suits his physiology for me.

I don't agree with your logic Taxus. If someone is able to gap you 10sec/km in 5% in a mountain stage, he gaps you more than 10 sec/km in 8%

Steeper climbs favor Quintana because he has to just go against Gravity due to less weight but less steep climbs will favor Froome as he can put more power to counter air Resistance.

 

[ILovecycling]

I wonder if they'll try something tomoroz, ...I think they should wait tho

 

[Eclipse]

Re:

I wonder if they'll try something tomoroz, ...I think they should wait tho

I don't think they can wait if they actually want to win this. 3 mins to take back in the Alps is a massive ask. Sure there's the potential that they fail if they try something tomorrow, but if Sky get to control things to the final climb there's a reasonable chance Froome puts another 30s+ into everyone too.

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

what are you crying? you are a know quintana-hater so why do you care?

quintana will wait and focus on the final week. already today sky were pretty f'd with porte sucking and pretty much everyone except thomas and froome, while movistar had 4 guys.

Show me where I am a Quintana hater? I want Quintana to do well ,I want a race.
After Bertie he was the best chance to beat Froome.
Fact is, he was awful yesterday he got beat by Porte [ who's smug face I do hate] I'm not going to pretend it was great when he was crap. I don't do that on the Bertie thread. I tell it like it is.
If you want to pretend that Quintana is the greatest climber and make excuses when he gets is as$ kicked then that's up to you, yesterday he got his arse kicked ,no excuses just a poor performance.
I hope he can show us the potential we think he has and can wipe the smug smile off Portes face and give us a race. No hater just telling it like it is.
Come on Nairo give us a race.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Today was a great chance to try something. He looked fu%%ed when Nibs had a go. Come on tinymanofpower prove to us you are not all hype.
We need a race.

what are you crying? you are a know quintana-hater so why do you care?

quintana will wait and focus on the final week. already today sky were pretty f'd with porte sucking and pretty much everyone except thomas and froome, while movistar had 4 guys.

Show me where I am a Quintana hater? I want Quintana to do well ,I want a race.
After Bertie he was the best chance to beat Froome.
Fact is, he was awful yesterday he got beat by Porte [ who's smug face I do hate] I'm not going to pretend it was great when he was crap. I don't do that on the Bertie thread. I tell it like it is.
If you want to pretend that Quintana is the greatest climber and make excuses when he gets is as$ kicked then that's up to you, yesterday he got his arse kicked ,no excuses just a poor performance.
I hope he can show us the potential we think he has and can wipe the smug smile off Portes face and give us a race. No hater just telling it like it is.
Come on Nairo give us a race.

lol if you consider effort of around 6watts/kg a 'crap' then this

 

[hfer07]

despite all the Froome/SKY bs happening, I am confident that Nairito will glow tomorrow on Plat D'Beille, since the overall stage is well suitable to his skills.

Vamos Nairitooo!!!!

 

[ILovecycling]

You should rather read all those interviews with Unzue, Im really shocked right now.
Who the *** cares about 2nd place? Maybe Valverde but it shouldnt be a goal for a guy who 23 years old won polka dot,white jer and was 2nd.
who the *** cares if he will be 2nd or 12th? He needs to try something on Froome (Sky), that should be their only goal.and its not important what GC place they'll have if they fail.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

don't worrie. movistar and quintana won't settele for 2nd place. also can anyone post the exact time of climb on tuesday? want to calculate quintana's watt per kg as that must've been sky high with him being 52 kg

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

don't worrie. movistar and quintana won't settele for 2nd place. also can anyone post the exact time of climb on tuesday? want to calculate quintana's watt per kg as that must've been sky high with him being 52 kg

ammatti has it I think, I'll try to find it

 

[ILovecycling]

#TDF2015 Stage 10.
La Pierre Saint Martin (14.89 km, 7.72 %, 1150 m)
Nairo Quintana: 41 min 58 sec, 21.29 Kph, VAM 1644 m/h, 5.93 W/kg [DrF]

dont look at w/kg, I think he calculated it with 54 kg

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

don't worrie. movistar and quintana won't settele for 2nd place. also can anyone post the exact time of climb on tuesday? want to calculate quintana's watt per kg as that must've been sky high with him being 52 kg

also how you can be so sure, unzue is an idiot