Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[Jspear]

Re:

How easy it has been so far. Astana 2015 wouldn't have allowed this.

Yeah...it's most likely because of the final week though. It's definitely back loaded.

 

[AlexNYC]

He has to be happy so far. At this rate, he could win the Giro with two big efforts, which would be great for his Tour prospects.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

How easy it has been so far. Astana 2015 wouldn't have allowed this.

Apart from a MTF with a huge headwind, there's been very little to work with

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

How easy it has been so far. Astana 2015 wouldn't have allowed this.

Apart from a MTF with a huge headwind, there's been very little to work with

Thats true to some extent, but Astana attacked with 130 to go on a decently hilly stage. The stage profiles were generally better in 2015, but it seemed that something happened everyday.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

How easy it has been so far. Astana 2015 wouldn't have allowed this.

Apart from a MTF with a huge headwind, there's been very little to work with

Thats true to some extent, but Astana attacked with 130 to go on a decently hilly stage. The stage profiles were generally better in 2015, but it seemed that something happened everyday.

In 2015 Martinelli had a reason to hit Contador hard each day. And I'm neither talking about Aru nor Landa!

It's the same this year, though.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Today is the toughest MTF in the whole Giro. The final week isn't as tough as in the days of Zomegnan. If Quintana wants to win the Giro he has to take time today. You can't just assume that Thomas, Landa, Dumoulin and Zakarin are going to collapse in the queen stage.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

How easy it has been so far. Astana 2015 wouldn't have allowed this.

Apart from a MTF with a huge headwind, there's been very little to work with

Thats true to some extent, but Astana attacked with 130 to go on a decently hilly stage. The stage profiles were generally better in 2015, but it seemed that something happened everyday.

In 2015 Martinelli had a reason to hit Contador hard each day. And I'm neither talking about Aru nor Landa!

It's the same this year, though.

Martinelli no longer has a reason to hit this year. And those with a reason to hit can't see beyond the end of their noses.

 

[Scarponi]

Tirreno form should be enough ?

 

[Matteo.]

I would not be surprised if he went a bit into trouble. A kind of Montecampione 2014

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I would not be surprised if he went a bit into trouble. A kind of Montecampione 2014

Hmm, I think thats a bit pessimistic, he wasn't ever on his a game that Giro apart from a few stages in the 3rd week.. well, arguments can be made he never really was honestly. I think he is at least one level better in 17.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

I would not be surprised if he went a bit into trouble. A kind of Montecampione 2014

Hmm, I think thats a bit pessimistic, he wasn't ever on his a game that Giro apart from a few stages in the 3rd week.. well, arguments can be made he never really was honestly. I think he is at least one level better in 17.

I have few doubts Quintana is better right now. But the field should also be better now. Still don't expect Quintana to get in trouble today.

 

[Scarponi]

Pretty good for stage 9

 

[portugal11]

He is already the strongest in the first big mountain stage (etna was a walk in the park), he will destroy everyone in third week

 

[Matteo.]

Anyway he's better than 2014, the result is clear

 

[sir fly]

The Blockhaus is exactly how his shape should look alike with the double in mind.
A good program they've composed.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

He is already the strongest in the first big mountain stage (etna was a walk in the park), he will destroy everyone in third week

Doubt he will, because he doesn't need to. He just needs one more big effort and the Giro is his. The double is looking really doable.

 

[Gloin22]

Re: Re:

He is already the strongest in the first big mountain stage (etna was a walk in the park), he will destroy everyone in third week

Doubt he will, because he doesn't need to. He just needs one more big effort and the Giro is his. The double is looking really doable.

thats now how cycling fitness peaks work though, when you train all year to peak for an event no matter what you will feel it afterwards even if its easier than expected

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

He is already the strongest in the first big mountain stage (etna was a walk in the park), he will destroy everyone in third week

Doubt he will, because he doesn't need to. He just needs one more big effort and the Giro is his. The double is looking really doable.

thats now how cycling fitness peaks work though, when you train all year to peak for an event no matter what you will feel it afterwards even if its easier than expected

Of course you will, but Nairo is elite in recovery and if he can win the Giro with minimal efforts, doing the third week in spare mode, the double isn't as out of the picture as it seems.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Miles ahead of the rest.

Remember, this is just 1st week Quintana, not beast mode Quintana, and he already won 24 seconds.
This will be 1 minute each mountain stage in the last week. Unbeatable. He could even go into early saving mode maybe.

 

[Brullnux]

Miles ahead of the rest.

Remember, this is just 1st week Quintana, not beast mode Quintana, and he already won 24 seconds.
This will be 1 minute each mountain stage in the last week. Unbeatable. He could even go into early saving mode maybe.

Apparently this performance was up there with alpe d'huez. I think it could be close to beast mode

 

[Gigs_98]

Let's not overestimate him. Yeah he was good, but he gained less than half a minute on Dumoulin. If I had told you that before the stage most of you would have said that result would be disappointing. He is the favorite but the race surely isn't over yet.

 

[Netserk]

He can gain the same on Piancavallo, maybe more, but the other stages are not as straightforward.

 

[Red Rick]

It's not like there's much more room to improve on this. Quintana has done great things in the past from the 2nd week onwards.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Miles ahead of the rest.

Remember, this is just 1st week Quintana, not beast mode Quintana, and he already won 24 seconds.
This will be 1 minute each mountain stage in the last week. Unbeatable. He could even go into early saving mode maybe.

He rode two Grands Tours since his 2015 Tour, and he wasn't much stronger as the race goes on.

 

[SeriousSam]

Let's not overestimate him. Yeah he was good, but he gained less than half a minute on Dumoulin. If I had told you that before the stage most of you would have said that result would be disappointing. He is the favorite but the race surely isn't over yet.

Dumoulin did much better than expected and was in fact the second best climber together with Pinot.

The race is as over as it can be. The remaining small doubts are Nibali magic, whether Dumoulin has become Indurain and whether Quintana suffers some sort of misfortune.