Good move staying at Movistar. Spanish-speaking team (don't underestimate that), very good supporting riders. It's hard to tell if this year was an anomaly or a signal that NQ has already reached his peak and is on the downward side of his career. He certainly deserves at least another year, maybe 2, as a protected GT leader. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get a better chance to win the TdF at any other team save Sky...
Re: Re:
Quintana's team was much stronger than Sunweb's and Bahrain's in this Giro. (They had 2 or 3 riders on the break on Stelvio stage, but Quintana didn't attack on Stelvio, if he had attacked there they could have gained huge time on the false flat between Stelvio and Umbrail and combined with TD's nature break, TD would have lost a lot of time.)
They also had a very strong team in all GTs of 2016.
The problem is that Movistar and Quintana don't use the team aggressive enough.
hrotha said:
Quintana's team was much stronger than Sunweb's and Bahrain's in this Giro. (They had 2 or 3 riders on the break on Stelvio stage, but Quintana didn't attack on Stelvio, if he had attacked there they could have gained huge time on the false flat between Stelvio and Umbrail and combined with TD's nature break, TD would have lost a lot of time.)
They also had a very strong team in all GTs of 2016.
The problem is that Movistar and Quintana don't use the team aggressive enough.
- Aug 3, 2015
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One thing Quintana certainly cant complain about is the support. Movistar have consistently supported him brilliantly 2013-17, excluding this Tour obviously, but that wouldn't have mattered jackshit anyways. True, some important domestiques are leaving and Landa is incoming (which he most likely will be a beneficiary of since Landa is doing Giro anyways) but they still have some great riders to protect him on the flats, the always reliably Bennati, and some up and coming climbers. And the best super domestique in the world if he gets back on a respectable level.
Strange that you can finish 2nd by 30 seconds in the 2017 Giro and you are past your best ? This is drawing a low bow,
- Oct 12, 2013
- 2,430
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Re:
The question is, how well will he be supported in 2018 and 2019? The signs are on the wall for this, Unzue doesn't believe in Nairo any more, Landa is his new main guy for the Grand Tours (plus Valverde of course). I believe the Cycling Weekly article is correct, Unzue is trying to get rid of Quintana. And i do think that Nairo should get out of Movistar as soon as possible, especially if he had to ride the Giro against his will, as his father has suggested. Astana is a good option, but not the only one.Valv.Piti said:
- Nov 7, 2010
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Re: Re:
A bit like he did at Sky, except that he has much better longer term prospects at Movistar, particularly regarding the Tour, because Valverde will retire soon, Quintana may move team or, more probably, go for the Giro again one year, and he is undoubtedly next in line for Tour leadership. At Sky, Froome will do the Tour for the forseeable future and Landa was always competing with others. The only danger is that someone like Soler will shoot straight past him in the pecking order.
If Quintana stays though, I'm sure he'll remain number one at Movistar for a long time; at least unless his form drops massively over a long period and Landa actually starts winning GTs.
I don't think Landa is the main guy at all in the short term (next season). I would guess he has been signed as the long term replacement for Valverde - as the star Spanish rider. Nairo will certainly still be number one at the Tour, and I think Valverde will probably be number one at the Vuelta if he regains form. Landa will get the Giro, but mostly because the other two don't want to ride it, and then will ride support at the Tour.fauniera said:
A bit like he did at Sky, except that he has much better longer term prospects at Movistar, particularly regarding the Tour, because Valverde will retire soon, Quintana may move team or, more probably, go for the Giro again one year, and he is undoubtedly next in line for Tour leadership. At Sky, Froome will do the Tour for the forseeable future and Landa was always competing with others. The only danger is that someone like Soler will shoot straight past him in the pecking order.
If Quintana stays though, I'm sure he'll remain number one at Movistar for a long time; at least unless his form drops massively over a long period and Landa actually starts winning GTs.
- Jun 10, 2010
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I'm not saying Quintana has a reason to complain about the support he's received so far, I'm saying that Movistar's best domestiques have left, and the only ones who are staying are either simply not as good (say, José Herrada) or prone to underperforming (say, Amador and Anacona). And they aren't really replacing them. Rubén Fernández may or may not fill that gap, but he's been pretty inconsistent, and we still haven't seen Marc Soler in a GT so who knows.
- Apr 16, 2009
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Anacona has been very good support 2 out of 3 times in GT's. Superb domestique. And FYI he is leaving as well. Just like Castroviejo. Those 2 were good domestiques.
Amador was great at the Giro. He never should have been taken to the Tour. Never understood why.
I think Movistar are betting on the future with the young climbing talent and keeping the big riders for the flatlands.
Amador was great at the Giro. He never should have been taken to the Tour. Never understood why.
I think Movistar are betting on the future with the young climbing talent and keeping the big riders for the flatlands.
But I really think that movistar's project is in danger when bala retire. Valverde is the heart and soul of this team and riders like valverde doesn't born every day.
After Froome Sky do not have a GT leader who finished top 5. Had he stayed at Sky he may have had better chances than Movistar. Should have gone to Trek but now the question is moot
Anacona, Castroviejo and Sutherland are leaving right? Anyone else?
But Soler and Carapaz should get better next season; and with Landa and Roson joining I think the climbing team should still be very strong.
Edit: Carapaz already joined the team as a stagiare in the end of July 2016. Fixed the mistake.
But Soler and Carapaz should get better next season; and with Landa and Roson joining I think the climbing team should still be very strong.
Edit: Carapaz already joined the team as a stagiare in the end of July 2016. Fixed the mistake.
- Nov 7, 2010
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Re:
Yeah, I think the strongest team has improved. Quintana will probably have Landa and Valverde supporting him at the Tour - that's the two best climbing domestiques in the peloton, by a distance. Plus Soler is only going to improve, and maybe Roson could step up a level as well. They've lost a couple of decent engines, but they are a lot easier to replace than top climbing domestiques are.Forever The Best said:
- Feb 10, 2015
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Strongest team uphill or strongest team overall? Because overall Team Sky beats everyone by a solid margin.DFA123 said:
- Jun 10, 2010
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Strongest team Movistar can field in a given race, compared to previous seasons.
Which I'm sceptical about, regardless. We don't know at what level Valverde will come back, we don't know how well Rosón will do at that level, we don't know whether Landa will work for Quintana. Too many unknowns, and not a lot of depth to cover for any problems.
Which I'm sceptical about, regardless. We don't know at what level Valverde will come back, we don't know how well Rosón will do at that level, we don't know whether Landa will work for Quintana. Too many unknowns, and not a lot of depth to cover for any problems.
Re:
Landa (He may ride Giro+Vuelta)
Valverde (He may not comeback after the crash at this age )
Betancur (I think he will be even better next season)
Soler
Roson
Carapaz (I expect all 3 to improve, though pure speculation of course)
Amador (Wasn't that bad this year, he was tired from the Giro, a mistake taking him to both Giro and Tour)
Herrada (A good domestique)
I think that's a pretty solid team.
Quintanahrotha said:
Landa (He may ride Giro+Vuelta)
Valverde (He may not comeback after the crash at this age
)Betancur (I think he will be even better next season)
Soler
Roson
Carapaz (I expect all 3 to improve, though pure speculation of course)
Amador (Wasn't that bad this year, he was tired from the Giro, a mistake taking him to both Giro and Tour)
Herrada (A good domestique)
I think that's a pretty solid team.
- Jul 27, 2009
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Probably Landa gets the better support team at the Giro, because he can really win it. While Quintana needs to hope for a Froome meltdown.
Anyway,
Sepulveda, Kudus, Fernandez, Betancur, Soler, Amador, Sütterlin, Dowsett, Erviti, De la Parte, Oliveira etc.
That's a solid core to build at least one gt winning team out of it.
More likely at the Giro with Landani. But that's only IMHO!
Anyway,
Sepulveda, Kudus, Fernandez, Betancur, Soler, Amador, Sütterlin, Dowsett, Erviti, De la Parte, Oliveira etc.
That's a solid core to build at least one gt winning team out of it.
More likely at the Giro with Landani. But that's only IMHO!
I think the 2018 TdF will be the last chance for Nairo to win it in the Movistar jersey. Two of his best mates are gone already with Gorka and Castro, Dayer will probably stay on board despite the interest from other teams. 2019 will be for Landa.
Re:
I think he lost his chances this year... next year he will face froome and dumoulinMoviestar said:
- May 9, 2014
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DFA123 said:
From the MAL Thread ^
You gotta bare in mind, Quintana hasn't reached his 2015 form, not due to injuries, but just poor preparation/whatever
Yes, Froome is past his peak now, but Quintana couldn't win the Tour in literally the perfectly designed courses for him. Even if he reaches his 2015 form, he'll need to be able to win on routes that feature much more TTing, possibly cobbles. At the end of the day, he just isn't well rounded enough to win the Tour, especially with all the new generation of stage racers coming through.
Writing him off completely would be a mistake, but it's very debatable whether Nairo will ever win the Tour
- Nov 7, 2010
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Re:
The season before he won a GT and finished third in another. It's way too early to say that he's on some kind of decline or that next year is do or die. Even if he fails next year, he could move team and become rejuvinated. You never know, he could even end up replacing Froome at Sky and ride to a hattrick of Tours on the back of the Sky train.
Quintana is still one of the very best climbers in the peloton and can limit his losses in TTs very well to anyone other than Froome or Dumoulin. So he's still got good chances in the Tour over the next few years imo.
I think there's been a bit of an over-reaction to this one season. Which hasn't been really terrible - he still finished 2nd in a GT, winning on the toughest climb and only was beaten by a guy who took nearly five minutes out of him on a heavily TT loaded course.PremierAndrew said:
The season before he won a GT and finished third in another. It's way too early to say that he's on some kind of decline or that next year is do or die. Even if he fails next year, he could move team and become rejuvinated. You never know, he could even end up replacing Froome at Sky and ride to a hattrick of Tours on the back of the Sky train.
Quintana is still one of the very best climbers in the peloton and can limit his losses in TTs very well to anyone other than Froome or Dumoulin. So he's still got good chances in the Tour over the next few years imo.
- May 9, 2014
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Re: Re:
It's not just this year. Even last year, the Tour he got bailed out by the moto on Ventoux or he probs wouldnt have even finished on the podium, he got bailed out by Contador or he would have lost the Vuelta by a couple of minutes. In the Giro this year, he lost even with poopgate and barely beat Pinot and an off form Nibali. And then the Tour: even with a Giro in his legs that was very very poor.
In fact even his 2014 Giro, it's debatable whether he would have beaten Uran without that neutralised descent. Okay let's not get into whether it was fair or not, but the fact remains that he's not dominated any Grand Tour, with or without the presence of Froome
DFA123 said:
It's not just this year. Even last year, the Tour he got bailed out by the moto on Ventoux or he probs wouldnt have even finished on the podium, he got bailed out by Contador or he would have lost the Vuelta by a couple of minutes. In the Giro this year, he lost even with poopgate and barely beat Pinot and an off form Nibali. And then the Tour: even with a Giro in his legs that was very very poor.
In fact even his 2014 Giro, it's debatable whether he would have beaten Uran without that neutralised descent. Okay let's not get into whether it was fair or not, but the fact remains that he's not dominated any Grand Tour, with or without the presence of Froome
- May 9, 2014
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At this point, Froome, Dumoulin, Landa all look more likely to win a GT than Quintana depending on the parcours
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