Teams & Riders Nairo Quintana discussion thread

[Escarabajo]

I just watched the stage and I think there is nothing wrong with Quintana. He did what he had to do and looked fine until the final meters. On the other side Dumoulin is doing a super performance.

Having said that, many people called it that this was a stage for Dumoulin. Even that idiot from Eurosport got it right.

 

[Mr.White]

Hard blow today. He rode strong, but the climb was just not hard enough, and Dumoulin is amazing at the moment. It was a dilemma certainly, to attack or not to attack. Racing instinct prevail, he was upfront, opportunity arise, Dumoulin was back, and he went for it. It was a good effort, but as I said Dumoulin was super strong today. That's a good attitude, if nothing more. When the road goes up, he knows he has to attack if he thinks to go home with a trophy. But it's going to be bloody hard...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

I just watched the stage and I think there is nothing wrong with Quintana. He did what he had to do and looked fine until the final meters. On the other side Dumoulin is doing a super performance.

Having said that, many people called it that this was a stage for Dumoulin. Even that idiot from Eurosport got it right.

Hmm, not sure I agree.

Dumoulin is one thing, but he also got beat by Zakarin and Landa too in the end. That's not normal for Quintana's standards.
However, he didn't look good at all in the Giro he won when Uran was leading. And then he just blew almost everyone away in 1 single stage. So, yeah, this doesn't tell us much.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Hard blow today. He rode strong, but the climb was just not hard enough, and Dumoulin is amazing at the moment. It was a dilemma certainly, to attack or not to attack. Racing instinct prevail, he was upfront, opportunity arise, Dumoulin was back, and he went for it. It was a good effort, but as I said Dumoulin was super strong today. That's a good attitude, if nothing more. When the road goes up, he knows he has to attack if he thinks to go home with a trophy. But it's going to be bloody hard...

Yes, I can't agree with people who are critical of him for going from so far out. Sometimes in the past he has been too cautious. Here he has shown that he understands that he can't win by taking a couple of dozen seconds by going late on climbing stages. He has to put it up to Dumoulin early and often. Win or lose in the end that's the way he maximises his chances and maximises Dumoulin's chances of going pop.

I just hope that he doesn't reasses that approach after what must have been a demoralising day in the saddle

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Hard blow today. He rode strong, but the climb was just not hard enough, and Dumoulin is amazing at the moment. It was a dilemma certainly, to attack or not to attack. Racing instinct prevail, he was upfront, opportunity arise, Dumoulin was back, and he went for it. It was a good effort, but as I said Dumoulin was super strong today. That's a good attitude, if nothing more. When the road goes up, he knows he has to attack if he thinks to go home with a trophy. But it's going to be bloody hard...

I agree as well. He had to go and attack. He couldn't wait. He tried to seize the opportunity and failed. But At least tried.

 

[Cookster15]

Can we read much into Quintana losing 14 seconds in the last 500 meters? It looked to me like he must have blown up? If he was on form to pull back the 4 minutes he needs before the TT I don't think he would have lost 14 secs in such a short space maybe 3 to 5? When you are on form you can recover to limit losses even after making a hard effort.

 

[Jspear]

I personally wouldn't read too much into it. Surely he pushed it kinda hard from 5-2 K to go. He was fine until the cobbles. I think even that could have messed up his rhythm some.

 

[Tonton]

To me, i's a huge blow for Quintana. He got smacked on the back of the head today. Now Dumoulin truly believes.

After stage 16 we'll see. But a minute won't do. Nairito will have to dig deep to win this thing, and I'm not sure what shape he'll be in in July, against Sky (with TooFast).

Still a lot of racing left. But everyday that goes by makes it more difficult. It's not over. Not by any means. Stage 16 will be HUGE. He usually is a conservative rider: there's no holding back now. It has to be a long range attack. Nairo can write his history, cement his legacy.

Quintana needs to give Berto a call (LaFlo will like that one).

Odds to win IMO: Quintana 45, Dumoulin 40, Nibali 10, Pinot 5, in percents.

 

[Valv.Piti]

You think Contador would answer the phone from Q?

 

[Tonton]

Re:

You think Contador would answer the phone from Q?

He wouldn't if it was Valverde, I bet .

But really, it's unfamiliar territory for Quintana. FWIW, I'm no DS and I possess limited racing experience, but to me the scenario could be: making the Mortirolo a torture for TD, attack in the Stelvio, good descent and clear by 2 minutes starting the final climb. 4 minutes on the line. And go for another 2 minutes stage 18.

That's a scenario we haven't seen with Quintana: the Bertie all out. And of course he can do it. But it's a big gamble, and it's new...

 

[damian13ster]

'Good descent' and 'Quintana' are oxymorons. That won't happen, even if he has a wheel to follow.
Movistar basically has to drive insane pace from the very beginning of Stage 16, isolate Dumoulin mid-way through the penultimate climb, and Quintana has to drop him before the end of the climb. Imho, if he doesn't make up 90s in next two stages, I think Giro is over barring unlucky incident. Tomorrow will be exciting. I can actually see Nibali and Tom trying to put some time into Q on a descent.

 

[movingtarget]

'Good descent' and 'Quintana' are oxymorons. That won't happen, even if he has a wheel to follow.
Movistar basically has to drive insane pace from the very beginning of Stage 16, isolate Dumoulin mid-way through the penultimate climb, and Quintana has to drop him before the end of the climb. Imho, if he doesn't make up 90s in next two stages, I think Giro is over barring unlucky incident. Tomorrow will be exciting. I can actually see Nibali and Tom trying to put some time into Q on a descent.

Quintana isn't a bad descender, nothing like Zakarin.

 

[dacooley]

I don't really think that descending will decide the outcome on the bormio stage. if long-range attack succeeds, nairo most likely will be riding the stelvio descent glued to the wheels of teammates, so he will have to go solo only on the descent from umbrail, otoh unless dimoulin cracks, the descent can hardly salvage the race for quintana.

 

[RattaKuningas]

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

 

[kingjr]

Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

 

[Robert5091]

First Dumoulin in the Giro then Froome in TdF ... Quintana will think it's deja vu all over again.

 

[Sartorius]

Even if Quintana will end up second in Giro, it will cost him much more than he ever thought so. Also I believe this Giro will force him to peak "more" and later than he planned and he won't be able to recuperate before TdF. I think Quintana won't be a factor in TdF...

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

Two useful riders for a blistering descent

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

Two useful riders for a blistering descent

 

[kingjr]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

Two useful riders for a blistering descent

Yeah that's an inconvenience. With a bit of luck he'll have Nibali too, though.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

Two useful riders for a blistering descent

Yeah that's an inconvenience. With a bit of luck he'll have Nibali too, though.

And with a bit of luck he might also have Nibali and Tom D forming alliances in descents against himself.

 

[kingjr]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.

Two useful riders for a blistering descent

Yeah that's an inconvenience. With a bit of luck he'll have Nibali too, though.

And with a bit of luck he might also have Nibali and Tom D forming alliances in descents against himself.

I wouldn't do that in Nibali's place though, not on Tuesday.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Even on this shallow climb he was able to distance Dumoulin for quite some time and hold the gap so team tactics are definitely possible like Astana did in 2015 Vuelta. I feel like they should strike already on top of the Mortirolo in stage 16 because there are very steep gradients and he can make quite a gap there before start of the descent. These are high mountains as well so I won't rule out that Quintana won't be stronger than he is now on these.

Maybe already before the top. He'd find willing collaborators in at least Pinot and Zakarin I think.[/quote]

Two useful riders for a blistering descent[/quote]
Yeah that's an inconvenience. With a bit of luck he'll have Nibali too, though.[/quote]

And with a bit of luck he might also have Nibali and Tom D forming alliances in descents against himself.[/quote]I wouldn't do that in Nibali's place though, not on Tuesday.[/quote]

How about today?

 

[kingjr]

I wouldn't do anything today, really, unless an opportunity presented itself.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

You think Contador would answer the phone from Q?

No, because Contador is spiteful and hateful just like Visconti