Very encouraging week where he did really well on all terrains. For now it’s just a spark, but let’s hope it’s turned out to be a sign of what’s yet to come in July. But his first real test under Bartoli’s training was a positive.
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Scarponi said:Contador was pulling 10 to 1 compared Quintana in that break, which led to the end resultmariposa said:Koronin said:movingtarget said:Valv.Piti said:Yes, Quintana has put in dominant climbing performances in GTs after 2014, in fact in every year.
2015 on La Toussuire and Alpe d' Huez (TdF).
2016 in La Vuelta on Covadonga and just shutting Froome down on the major MTFs (Vuelta).
2017 on Blockhaus (Giro).
2018 on Col de Portet (TdF).
I mean for a whole grand tour. He's supposed to be a GC rider not a stage hunter. He rode well in the Vuelta he won and the 2015 Tour but he never dominated. Contador's break was the turning point of the 2016 Vuelta and Froome never really looked like losing the Tour.
2015 Tour was his best GT. Without Contador's ambush in the 2016 Vuelta, Froome wins that Vuelta.
Whilst I have nothing but admiration for the way that Contador rode in the 2016 Vuelta, and generally, I don't think that he can be given all the credit for that breakaway. Quintana rode really well as well and was able to keep riding at the end of the stage when Contador couldn't. A huge amount of credit had to be given to the team mates of both of the big riders who rode their socks off in support of their team leaders. Movistar disrupting the chase and ensuring that most of the Sky Team couldn't get back on was also a big part of the whole move. One of the Grand Tour Stages I can watch form start to finish again and again.
I second this notion.LaFlorecita said:Not this again...
mariposa said:Koronin said:movingtarget said:Valv.Piti said:Yes, Quintana has put in dominant climbing performances in GTs after 2014, in fact in every year.
2015 on La Toussuire and Alpe d' Huez (TdF).
2016 in La Vuelta on Covadonga and just shutting Froome down on the major MTFs (Vuelta).
2017 on Blockhaus (Giro).
2018 on Col de Portet (TdF).
I mean for a whole grand tour. He's supposed to be a GC rider not a stage hunter. He rode well in the Vuelta he won and the 2015 Tour but he never dominated. Contador's break was the turning point of the 2016 Vuelta and Froome never really looked like losing the Tour.
2015 Tour was his best GT. Without Contador's ambush in the 2016 Vuelta, Froome wins that Vuelta.
Whilst I have nothing but admiration for the way that Contador rode in the 2016 Vuelta, and generally, I don't think that he can be given all the credit for that breakaway. Quintana rode really well as well and was able to keep riding at the end of the stage when Contador couldn't. A huge amount of credit had to be given to the team mates of both of the big riders who rode their socks off in support of their team leaders. Movistar disrupting the chase and ensuring that most of the Sky Team couldn't get back on was also a big part of the whole move. One of the Grand Tour Stages I can watch form start to finish again and again.
movingtarget said:Gutsy ride by Quintana in Paris-Nice finale but Sky had the numbers as usual. Once riders started attacking for the stage win Quintana was done as the driving on the front broke down.
masking_agent said:movingtarget said:Gutsy ride by Quintana in Paris-Nice finale but Sky had the numbers as usual. Once riders started attacking for the stage win Quintana was done as the driving on the front broke down.
I agree. We are going to see this over and over again until he finally retires. I don't why Nairo doesn't have a supporting cast ? Where are all these Movistar climbers ? I thought they were top heavy ? Poor Nairo always seems to be the only one stuck in between the Sky Train. I think he'll retire the same way.
I think this is his biggest problem with regards to perceptions of him. He doesn't gurn, shove his teeth or tongue out, or drool over himself, or throw his shoulders around like he's wrestling a gorilla; so people conclude he must be finding it easy, and that he just lacks the heart to go deep enough.pink_jersey said:Did he easily followed Bernal?
Quintana always gives this impression but I'm not sure that he was comfortable. Quintana pokerface is better than Nibali.
del1962 said:At first I thought he might be sitting on for Valverde, but really, with cooperation he could have buried Martin and Lopez and maybe Yates
cause that's what he (always) does?Koronin said:del1962 said:At first I thought he might be sitting on for Valverde, but really, with cooperation he could have buried Martin and Lopez and maybe Yates
The fact he said after the race that Valverde had told the team early on that he was going to take it easy on the climb and would be of no help to anyone, he wasn't sitting on for Valverde. (With Valverde's actions after the stage it's very likely Valverde is sick.) So exactly why Quintana wouldn't work with Bernal to try to eliminate more of the competition who knows.
CyclingEnthusiast said:Is he afraid he'll blow up? He followed Bernal so easily and then just sat there..
He had the chance to make decent time with Bernal and in the end lost 4s to Dan Martin?
He doesn't seem to ride with any heart..
They still have one of the higher budgets in the peloton. Lefevere loves to play the victim. And he doesn't like expensive GC-riders, Evenepoel has to get the hell out of there unless he becomes a GC-contender and Belgian sponsors will go apeshit.Valv.Piti said:It makes sense if Movistar grab Enrico Mas. I suppose they will, QS has a history of not being able to pay riders.