Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[SeriousSam]

Great victory for Quintana, though the circumstances do have to be noted, and they make for gloomy Tour prospects if there is any longish time trialling of any sort.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

The Tour organizers will not put a heavy TT Tour knowing the French don't have a good TT and that the only contender for Froome is very small climber from Colombia. They don't want to screw up their race for sure.

Apart from Pinot, yes. I agree with you, I don't think there will be more than 40 km, altho I would like for once to see around 70-80 km ITT despite being a huge Nairo-fanboy. So there is that - forcing Nairo to go the DISTANCE, beating Froome on his own turf. It could be spectacular, but pretty... unlikely.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

The Tour organizers will not put a heavy TT Tour knowing the French don't have a good TT and that the only contender for Froome is very small climber from Colombia. They don't want to screw up their race for sure.

Apart from Pinot, yes. I agree with you, I don't think there will be more than 40 km, altho I would like for once to see around 70-80 km ITT despite being a huge Nairo-fanboy. So there is that - forcing Nairo to go the DISTANCE, beating Froome on his own turf. It could be spectacular, but pretty... unlikely.

I don't have a problem with 70 or 80 km TT as long as one of them is very hilly and technical. Not both flattish.

 

[Red Rick]

Flat tt's aren't always windy

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

The Tour organizers will not put a heavy TT Tour knowing the French don't have a good TT and that the only contender for Froome is very small climber from Colombia. They don't want to screw up their race for sure.

Apart from Pinot, yes. I agree with you, I don't think there will be more than 40 km, altho I would like for once to see around 70-80 km ITT despite being a huge Nairo-fanboy. So there is that - forcing Nairo to go the DISTANCE, beating Froome on his own turf. It could be spectacular, but pretty... unlikely.

I don't have a problem with 70 or 80 km TT as long as one of them is very hilly and technical. Not both flattish.

They obviously don't have to be completely flat, but no more hilly than a mix between Embrun 2013 (which effectively was a mountain time trial) and the one Dumoulin this year. The other one should optimally be reasonably flat. Lets also remember that the ITTs this year have been very windy which have played hugely into Froome's hand, they aren't that every year.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Now, thats probably also a discussion for another thread. Above all tho, I hope for more multi mountain stages on longer distances.

So, I assume he will go back to Colombia and celebrate. Any news? I'd very much like him to race Lombardia this year considering the route, but it has been a loooong season and it might be a lot better just to together with his family and rest now.

 

[Escarabajo]

Half his body is already on the plane back to Colombia!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Half his body is already on the plane back to Colombia!

Yeah, thats what I thought... well deserved!

 

[Amnes2015]

todays sprint was pathethic
he hangs on motos
he attacks neutralized descents
got gifted a vuelta by contador

this guy needs to learn some class but i guess that cant be learned

 

[Moviestar]

Re:

Now, thats probably also a discussion for another thread. Above all tho, I hope for more multi mountain stages on longer distances.

So, I assume he will go back to Colombia and celebrate. Any news? I'd very much like him to race Lombardia this year considering the route, but it has been a loooong season and it might be a lot better just to together with his family and rest now.

He still has a chance to end as no.1 in the UCI World Tour (as the first Colombian pro cyclist ever)if he collects some points in Lombardia.

Nairo can give the Colombian fans yet another reason to cheer.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re: Re:

Now, thats probably also a discussion for another thread. Above all tho, I hope for more multi mountain stages on longer distances.

So, I assume he will go back to Colombia and celebrate. Any news? I'd very much like him to race Lombardia this year considering the route, but it has been a loooong season and it might be a lot better just to together with his family and rest now.

He still has a chance to end as no.1 in the UCI World Tour (as the first Colombian pro cyclist ever)if he collects some points in Lombardia.

Nairo can give the Colombian fans yet another reason to cheer.

This isn't tennis. Nobody cares about the world ranking. (Although I woud like to see him and other top climbers in Lombardia).

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

todays sprint was pathethic
he hangs on motos
he attacks neutralized descents
got gifted a vuelta by contador

this guy needs to learn some class but i guess that cant be learned

No. In the small farming ranch where he was raised with humility they forgot to teach him class. Sorry!

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

The Tour organizers will not put a heavy TT Tour knowing the French don't have a good TT and that the only contender for Froome is very small climber from Colombia. They don't want to screw up their race for sure.

at least Vuelta has showed that Froome can win from Quintana if there's ITT. So I hope TDF paid attention to that.

 

[sir fly]

Good to see him bounce back after the weak Tour (not by placing, you know what I mean). I doubted he'll maintain the consistency, but he's obviously made of fine material.
He needs to raise his game a little bit more to challenge Froome when it matters the most.
This Vuelta couldn't unfold better for their rivalry.

 

[Finn84]

It's worth of noting that Quintana has never ridden CdD or TdS on the years he's participated the Tour, which is exceptional what it comes to the main protagonists of the race. I took a look on top 5 in this decade (in case of disqualifications (Contador&Menchov), both original and reinstated drivers were part of research)

Contador had competed the Giro twice, while no one else had. In those years he didn't ride either. Apart from this and Quintana, Valverde (2014) was the only one who competed neither CdD or TdS.

CdD was much more popular as Schleck bros, Gesink, Hesjedal, Cunego, Kreuziger and Pinot were the ones competing in TdS and finishing top 5 that year. That's one win (after initial winner DQ) and three other podiums.

Pretty much thinking that Quintana should probably go to Dauphiné. Not really riding to win it but it could be helpful in the beginning of the Tour.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

Now, thats probably also a discussion for another thread. Above all tho, I hope for more multi mountain stages on longer distances.

So, I assume he will go back to Colombia and celebrate. Any news? I'd very much like him to race Lombardia this year considering the route, but it has been a loooong season and it might be a lot better just to together with his family and rest now.

He still has a chance to end as no.1 in the UCI World Tour (as the first Colombian pro cyclist ever)if he collects some points in Lombardia.

Nairo can give the Colombian fans yet another reason to cheer.

This isn't tennis. Nobody cares about the world ranking. (Although I woud like to see him and other top climbers in Lombardia).

Well, Rodriguez and Valverde seemed pretty satisfied with their win the previous years. There you have two already

 

[Escarabajo]

I finished watching the stage completely and I think he needs to change his mentality a little bit if wants to challenge Froome at the Tour (I guess I said that already a few times). But it really looks like he could have gone from 4 kms out today. He did not flinch a bit from Froome attacks. For moments it looks like he was at ease. He needs to be more aggressive like Contador, Hinault, Fignon, etc. Just show the world that he is really the strongest at that moment. IMHO.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I finished watching the stage completely and I think he needs to change his mentality a little bit if wants to challenge Froome at the Tour (I guess I said that already a few times). But it really looks like he could have gone from 4 kms out today. He did not flinch a bit from Froome attacks. For moments it looks like he was at ease. He needs to be more aggressive like Contador, Hinault, Fignon, etc. Just show the world that he is really the strongest at that moment. IMHO.

Agree, but now the stage wasn't on the line, it was somewhat pointless. I guess. I honestly don't think Quintana gives a crap about how he wins or how people perceives his win, he just wants to win and maximise his opportunities of winning - thats why when you see him attack, you can be sure he has something in the tank and can go the distance. He doesn't ride to pleasure anybody.

Its a trait, I don't necessarily think its easy to change. But had the stage been up for grabs, Im sure he woulda gone with say 2 or 3 kilometres to go.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I finished watching the stage completely and I think he needs to change his mentality a little bit if wants to challenge Froome at the Tour (I guess I said that already a few times). But it really looks like he could have gone from 4 kms out today. He did not flinch a bit from Froome attacks. For moments it looks like he was at ease. He needs to be more aggressive like Contador, Hinault, Fignon, etc. Just show the world that he is really the strongest at that moment. IMHO.

Agree, but now the stage wasn't on the line, it was somewhat pointless. I guess. I honestly don't think Quintana gives a crap about how he wins or how people perceives his win, he just wants to win and maximise his opportunities of winning - thats why when you see him attack, you can be sure he has something in the tank and can go the distance. He doesn't ride to pleasure anybody.

Its a trait, I don't necessarily think its easy to change. But had the stage been up for grabs, Im sure he woulda gone with say 2 or 3 kilometres to go.

That's the problem. He only attacks when he knows he is the strongest. Contador was crucial for him in formigal because quintana would only attack with 3/4 km to go and he would not even gain 20 seconds. He has to risk and he doesn't risk at all. When he is on the limit, he becomes a very defensive rider

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't think its a problem, but its something he has to consider for a while and I think he will after realising how he won the Vuelta. The whole approach going into the Tour - how to beat Froome? We know Sky will be much, much better in the Tour and this won't happen, but I think it might have opened his eyes to gain time unexpectedly and whenever you can.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

I don't think its a problem, but its something he has to consider for a while and I think he will after realising how he won the Vuelta. The whole approach going into the Tour - how to beat Froome? We know Sky will be much, much better in the Tour and this won't happen, but I think it might have opened his eyes to gain time unexpectedly and whenever you can.

The bottom line is: he beat Froome in a GT. Confidence wise, it's huge. At the TdF, he always looked spooked, tentative, if you take away the late Tour surges, when he was so far behind in the GC that Froome was keeping it vanilla and managing his lead.

For his mental, it's huge. True, he could have been more aggressive and dropped Froome in the final 4K. He didn't have to. He was easy, and his sprinting came across as a statement: "yep Dawg, I'm still fresh".

This could be a defining moment in his quest to slay the TdF-Froome-Dragon. Because that is the goal, or should be the goal. To cement your legacy, you have to beat the champ. I.e. McEnroe Wimbledon '81...or even Thevenet '75 for that matter. Gardner winning the gold versus a legend.

His greatest achievement thus far. Cheers Nairo Quintana.

Note: he can produce decent ITT, the key for me really comes down to matching Sky as a team.

 

[Cookster15]

I am sure Quintana could take more risks it is obviously his personality. But everyone becomes a defensive rider when at their limits. The question is knowing your limits relative to those of your competitors. I hope he learns to take risks like Cadel Evans learned after he won the 2009 Worlds. But Quintana has a stronger team at his disposal than did Evans for most of his career - particularly in the mountains. With TT's his weakness he really should build confidence in his ability to attack on MTFs. He has now won two Grand Tours with the benefit of a long range ambush. He can't rely on this every time to reach his potential. But he is still only 26, he has time on his side. Probably will take over Froome's mantle by 2018.

 

[Cookster15]

Re: Re:

I don't think its a problem, but its something he has to consider for a while and I think he will after realising how he won the Vuelta. The whole approach going into the Tour - how to beat Froome? We know Sky will be much, much better in the Tour and this won't happen, but I think it might have opened his eyes to gain time unexpectedly and whenever you can.

The bottom line is: he beat Froome in a GT. Confidence wise, it's huge. At the TdF, he always looked spooked, tentative, if you take away the late Tour surges, when he was so far behind in the GC that Froome was keeping it vanilla and managing his lead.

For his mental, it's huge. True, he could have been more aggressive and dropped Froome in the final 4K. He didn't have to. He was easy, and his sprinting came across as a statement: "yep Dawg, I'm still fresh".

This could be a defining moment in his quest to slay the TdF-Froome-Dragon. Because that is the goal, or should be the goal. To cement your legacy, you have to beat the champ. I.e. McEnroe Wimbledon '81...or even Thevenet '75 for that matter. Gardner winning the gold versus a legend.

His greatest achievement thus far. Cheers Nairo Quintana.

Note: he can produce decent ITT, the key for me really comes down to matching Sky as a team.

Movistar have the strength to match Sky in the Mountains but need to do a much better job of protecting Nairo on the vulnerable flat stages of the Tour where he uses up energy in the echelons and appears blunted on the following MTF. Hopefully the aging Valverde has two more good years left in him as well or that's another hole left for Movistar to fill.

 

[dacooley]

the key atm is probably being able to be much stronger (not marginally) than froome uphill to cover inevitable utime trial losses.

 

[DanielSong39]

Re:

I am sure Quintana could take more risks it is obviously his personality. But everyone becomes a defensive rider when at their limits. The question is knowing your limits relative to those of your competitors. I hope he learns to take risks like Cadel Evans learned after he won the 2009 Worlds. But Quintana has a stronger team at his disposal than did Evans for most of his career - particularly in the mountains. With TT's his weakness he really should build confidence in his ability to attack on MTFs. He has now won two Grand Tours with the benefit of a long range ambush. He can't rely on this every time to reach his potential. But he is still only 26, he has time on his side. Probably will take over Froome's mantle by 2018.

He took plenty of risks in the summit finishes in the Vuelta and finally had some successful attacks! He finally looked like the rider that I was hoping to see in the Tour de France.

Maybe 2017 is the year he puts on yellow?