Turning in to a poor season for Nairo. I think he needs to make a decision about whether to throw all eggs into the Giro-Vuelta double next season as he doesn't seem destined to win the Tour.
- Nov 7, 2010
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He obviously wasn't at top form at the Giro. He was getting reeled in by Reichenbach on climbs, getting dropped by 2nd tier GC contenders like Pinot and Zakarin and couldn't even put more than four minutes into a non-elite climber like Dumoulin. It looks like though instead of peaking for the Tour, he's ended up just riding both at around 90%, which is a bit of fail strategy wise. But, there was only one way to find out how it would go, and now he has found out.Tonton said:
- Jun 10, 2010
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I don't think it was a mistake in that sense. Like DT, I think the Giro was his actual top goal of the season. I think they wanted to avoid another loss to Froome in a straight fight and they figured Froome might be more assailable in 2018 anyways. The Friars are always willing to wait, after all, in the mistaken assumption that Quintana has all the time of the world and that a Tour victory will inevitably just happen eventually.
- Mar 17, 2009
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If I follow your rationale, then I question why Nairo went for the double, when he could have done much better Il Giro & la Vuelta, well Knowing this Tour was the least suitable to his abilities.....
I give him credit for trying , but at this point he has to set priorities & goals above dreams.... BTW, what is Movistar/Unzue going to do about Nairo's current GC stand? are they going to fight for top 5? - That's ridiculous!!!
hrotha said:
If I follow your rationale, then I question why Nairo went for the double, when he could have done much better Il Giro & la Vuelta, well Knowing this Tour was the least suitable to his abilities.....
I give him credit for trying , but at this point he has to set priorities & goals above dreams.... BTW, what is Movistar/Unzue going to do about Nairo's current GC stand? are they going to fight for top 5? - That's ridiculous!!!
Maybe an early swan song, I guess he achieved his peak too early in his career. He's a top climber since 2013 and it seems Nairo can't go higher, a bit sad.
- Nov 7, 2010
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Worth a shot one year, but it clearly hasn't worked out.
Exactly. If Giro was the main aim, it makes no sense to even be at the Tour. It seems much more likely that they saw what happened with the Vuelta last year and thought that Quintana could peak at a second consecutive GT - like Valverde has done in the past.hfer07 said:hrotha said:
If I follow your rationale, then I question why Nairo went for the double, when he could have done much better Il Giro & la Vuelta, well Knowing this Tour was the least suitable to his abilities.....
I give him credit for trying , but at this point he has to set priorities & goals above dreams.... BTW, what is Movistar/Unzue going to do about Nairo's current GC stand? are they going to fight for top 5? - That's ridiculous!!!
Worth a shot one year, but it clearly hasn't worked out.
Re: Re:
Spot on, but I think his full potential on climbs is done, IMHO he can't gain some % of power anymore, even in the Blockhaus I thought he could do a better time.DFA123 said:
- Nov 7, 2010
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The main conclusion I would draw from the last year or so, is that Quintana isn't a rider with an amazing base who can turn up and outclimb everyone at any time of year (whichkind of looked the case at times previously). To win GTs and drop everyone in the mountains enough to gain significant time, he really needs to peak and be at his best - there's too big a difference in level between his absolute best and his general season form.
It's certainly possible, at his age, that he's not going to improve a whole lot more.Isaak-Gabriel said:
The main conclusion I would draw from the last year or so, is that Quintana isn't a rider with an amazing base who can turn up and outclimb everyone at any time of year (whichkind of looked the case at times previously). To win GTs and drop everyone in the mountains enough to gain significant time, he really needs to peak and be at his best - there's too big a difference in level between his absolute best and his general season form.
- Mar 13, 2009
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you can NEVER be assured or promise you will be at absolute best even in a single GT after perfect build-up, not to mention about peak in the second grand tour you are in. Nairo was secretly hoping to be better in the tour is a more precise interference. anyway, a very respectable showing and there's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. This experience of doing the double attempt will only make him stronger and more experienced.
- Apr 16, 2009
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- Apr 16, 2009
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Isaak-Gabriel, this year is very hard to tell if he reached his peak early because of his silly Giro-Tour double idea. This year would be a bad measure.
- Apr 16, 2009
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Somehow I believe that his best training for the Tour is focusing on the classic races. That would give him depth, skill and quality race days without sacrificing too many days. Like he did in 2015.
Maybe do some 1 week races but not too much.
Hopefully.IndianCyclist said:
Somehow I believe that his best training for the Tour is focusing on the classic races. That would give him depth, skill and quality race days without sacrificing too many days. Like he did in 2015.
Maybe do some 1 week races but not too much.
Re:
I agree with you Escarabajo. Anyway it's difficult to win a GT each year, cycling isn't mathematics and Nairo can't be always at his best. He's a great professional rider with lot of work ethic, sometimes we are too harsh.Escarabajo said:
- May 11, 2013
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Of course not but we heard that he's going to try win the double, that the Giro was already in the bag, that he is better in the second GT. Fact is last Tour, partially Vuelta, the Giro and now this Tour seem to confirm that he is no longer capable of making that needed difference uphill in order to win.
Escarabajo said:
Of course not but we heard that he's going to try win the double, that the Giro was already in the bag, that he is better in the second GT. Fact is last Tour, partially Vuelta, the Giro and now this Tour seem to confirm that he is no longer capable of making that needed difference uphill in order to win.
Re: Re:
Well, in the stageraces he is always there fighting for the win so i would say his base is pretty high like Valverde. But it seems he hasn't the ability to improve his form with 5-10% at the start of a GT unlike a Froome or even someone like Bardet whereby you get the impression his form is always on the same level. Besides this, his last competetive race is always in April followed by two months of training ( this year is an exeception with the Giro) where his competitors opt for the Dauphine or Suisse, maybe time to change plans in stead of racing non-competitive races like Route du Sud ?
DFA123 said:
Well, in the stageraces he is always there fighting for the win so i would say his base is pretty high like Valverde. But it seems he hasn't the ability to improve his form with 5-10% at the start of a GT unlike a Froome or even someone like Bardet whereby you get the impression his form is always on the same level. Besides this, his last competetive race is always in April followed by two months of training ( this year is an exeception with the Giro) where his competitors opt for the Dauphine or Suisse, maybe time to change plans in stead of racing non-competitive races like Route du Sud ?
- Jul 19, 2010
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It's not impossible, even podium. (last year the 2nd place was 4 minutes). Remember 3rd week is the hardest week. Those riders in front of him could have a bad day and loose 3+ minutes. As long as, he is improving day by day. If he is getting fatigue as the day progress, then maybe joint force with Contador in breakaway for stage win. :lol:
But I think he went to the Giro with the scenario that he'll win it. They thought with the quality of the competitor, he could win it. Just to be surprised by Dumoulin. If he would have won the Giro, he would come in to the Tour with no pressure. Now, with 3+ minutes down, it's a long TDF for him. I applauded him to take Giro/TDF double. But I just don't see how he can win TDF, with a GT already in the leg. Even the fresher one can barely keep up with Froome and Sky. All the talk about how he is better in the second GT, turns out to not true at this point. I don't see him that good in the Vuelta last year either. He can't even take down Froome with his own strength. (If it's not because of Contador, I don't think he can win it). That's what so called the good form Quintana tried to take on Froome. How on earth, he thinks that he could a fresher Froome with a GT on his leg already?
hfer07 said:hrotha said:
If I follow your rationale, then I question why Nairo went for the double, when he could have done much better Il Giro & la Vuelta, well Knowing this Tour was the least suitable to his abilities.....
I give him credit for trying , but at this point he has to set priorities & goals above dreams.... BTW, what is Movistar/Unzue going to do about Nairo's current GC stand? are they going to fight for top 5? - That's ridiculous!!!
It's not impossible, even podium. (last year the 2nd place was 4 minutes). Remember 3rd week is the hardest week. Those riders in front of him could have a bad day and loose 3+ minutes. As long as, he is improving day by day. If he is getting fatigue as the day progress, then maybe joint force with Contador in breakaway for stage win. :lol:
But I think he went to the Giro with the scenario that he'll win it. They thought with the quality of the competitor, he could win it. Just to be surprised by Dumoulin. If he would have won the Giro, he would come in to the Tour with no pressure. Now, with 3+ minutes down, it's a long TDF for him. I applauded him to take Giro/TDF double. But I just don't see how he can win TDF, with a GT already in the leg. Even the fresher one can barely keep up with Froome and Sky. All the talk about how he is better in the second GT, turns out to not true at this point. I don't see him that good in the Vuelta last year either. He can't even take down Froome with his own strength. (If it's not because of Contador, I don't think he can win it). That's what so called the good form Quintana tried to take on Froome. How on earth, he thinks that he could a fresher Froome with a GT on his leg already?
Man some of you guys go a little far with the Vuelta, if I remember correctly he put time into Froome on all the climbs save one. Sure the ambush stage may have won the Vuelta but he dropped everyone minus one on the last climb even after working in the break. Pretty sure he did the climb faster than Froome who faded on the climb although didn't really work.
Edit: should have said put time into or finished with Froome
Edit: should have said put time into or finished with Froome
I think he will do giro-vuelta next year. Aso will understand that big tom is the only guy who can beat froome/sky. So they will put 60 km of time trials
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