There's an Against Me! song called Even at Our Worst We're Still Better than Most that comes to mind. He just saved Movistar's Tour even though they screwed it up for him today.
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Re:
I thought that too, until I remembered he won a Pyrenees stage last year. Third week suits him better seems to be the rule. Just like last year he had a good first week, a bad second week and a stage win in the third week. Quintana saves the Tour for Movistar. That was one impressive 22 km solo!Escarabajo said:
Seems he can't race with pressure. Nice win, but unlikely to have happened if was in the GC mix.
There’s quite a bit of climbing at altitude over the next two days. How big can Quintana dream? Has he been watching tapes from the 2018 Giro?
They won't let him get away again, though, so he won't be able to make up too much time in the next two stages. His current GC standings is safe, Landa is 1 minute back, Uran 130, Velverde 2 minutes.LiquidCrystalDynamic said:
The golden core group (Bernal, Thomas, Kruijswijk, Pinot, Buchmann) all have about two minutes on Nairo.
I will assume that at least one in that group will drop heavily, Pinot only due to number of matches spent in the first 2 weeks. I also assume that JA will drop out of podium but will it be 4 minutes worth? I believe Nairo can win another stage still and make up some time, but just not enough to change his GC position.
A truly supreme performance. What a ride.
Might as well say screw it and go for broke now, he's got a big statement win in the bag and there's nothing to lose. I hope he keeps attacking (though I would understand if he's spent)
Might as well say screw it and go for broke now, he's got a big statement win in the bag and there's nothing to lose. I hope he keeps attacking (though I would understand if he's spent)
Re: Re:
The riders of the earlier eras also raced significantly more races than today's riders which certainly had to have an effect on the longevity of their careers. Today's riders of course tend to be more specialized in their focus and with the rare rider that seriously competes in grand tours and classics with a reasonable expectation of success. Merckx and his contemporaries had a ton of race mileage on their bodies by the time they reached their 30's. Still, as you said, there was the rare rider that still found some degree of success well into his thirties.
carton said:
The riders of the earlier eras also raced significantly more races than today's riders which certainly had to have an effect on the longevity of their careers. Today's riders of course tend to be more specialized in their focus and with the rare rider that seriously competes in grand tours and classics with a reasonable expectation of success. Merckx and his contemporaries had a ton of race mileage on their bodies by the time they reached their 30's. Still, as you said, there was the rare rider that still found some degree of success well into his thirties.
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At least partially true. Don't think he would have been given the leash if he was still in contention.
Koronin said:
At least partially true. Don't think he would have been given the leash if he was still in contention.
That's the way to silence the critics: Winning big while coming back to the fight!
I have to acknowledge having lost faith in Nairito's abilities, based on his last appearances in the Tour, but he always gets something out of them- whether is a stage win, or a high place in the top 10, etc- so It is quite delightful to have him back, winning with panache, and perhaps leading a way to grand surprise in the GC
BTW - I bet his market value just went back up greatly, so whatever team he's riding for next season better raise the bar
I have to acknowledge having lost faith in Nairito's abilities, based on his last appearances in the Tour, but he always gets something out of them- whether is a stage win, or a high place in the top 10, etc- so It is quite delightful to have him back, winning with panache, and perhaps leading a way to grand surprise in the GC
BTW - I bet his market value just went back up greatly, so whatever team he's riding for next season better raise the bar
With the way Ineos is controlling Egan, the race could be up for grabs. Or in other words I don't see the dominant team that can control the race.
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Exactly - Egan should be unleashed - but I'd say Movistar have the upper hand with 3 possible cards to play- IF they play them right
If Nairito is feeling strong - then he's got a chance to reach podium
Escarabajo said:
Exactly - Egan should be unleashed - but I'd say Movistar have the upper hand with 3 possible cards to play- IF they play them right
If Nairito is feeling strong - then he's got a chance to reach podium
Re:
There has been no dominant team. Groupama looked weak yesterday. Ineos is all over the place. If Movistar rode the Tour they way the rode the Giro they might have won it.
Escarabajo said:
There has been no dominant team. Groupama looked weak yesterday. Ineos is all over the place. If Movistar rode the Tour they way the rode the Giro they might have won it.
Happy for Quintana today. Apparently he climbed the Galibier faster than the GC group.
But he isn't Spanish. I have always been of the opinion Quintana has been badly treated at Movistar since he won the 2016 Vuelta defeating Froome. I assume there was pressure then? For this he was "rewarded" by being asked to share leadership with an ageing Valverde who hasn't podiumed a Grand Tour since 2009 then to rub salt into the wound bring in the inconsistent and unpredictable Landa who continues to promise but still hasn't delivered.
Quintana has two recent Grand Tour wins for Movistar in his back pocket. He has fulfilled his side of the bargain and now they complain he under-performs. Yes they are professionals but they are also human beings I can understand NQs problems with motivation but today he showed he still has a high level and that his training in Colombia hasn't slowed him. Kudos.
Quintana's biggest career mistake was not to leave Movistar after 2016.
But he isn't Spanish. I have always been of the opinion Quintana has been badly treated at Movistar since he won the 2016 Vuelta defeating Froome. I assume there was pressure then? For this he was "rewarded" by being asked to share leadership with an ageing Valverde who hasn't podiumed a Grand Tour since 2009 then to rub salt into the wound bring in the inconsistent and unpredictable Landa who continues to promise but still hasn't delivered.
Quintana has two recent Grand Tour wins for Movistar in his back pocket. He has fulfilled his side of the bargain and now they complain he under-performs. Yes they are professionals but they are also human beings I can understand NQs problems with motivation but today he showed he still has a high level and that his training in Colombia hasn't slowed him. Kudos.
Quintana's biggest career mistake was not to leave Movistar after 2016.
Re: Re:
Ineous is much weaker than in 2018. This is why Bernal and not Thomas will win if it is an Ineous rider. Bernal not dependant upon the train. A train also now further weakened with the removal of Rowe.
movingtarget said:
Ineous is much weaker than in 2018. This is why Bernal and not Thomas will win if it is an Ineous rider. Bernal not dependant upon the train. A train also now further weakened with the removal of Rowe.
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Actually Valverde has podiums in the Vuelta in 2012, 2013, and 2015, Tour podium 2015 and Giro podium 2016.
I still think he Quintana should have gone to another team instead of signing his last contract with this team.
Cookster15 said:
Actually Valverde has podiums in the Vuelta in 2012, 2013, and 2015, Tour podium 2015 and Giro podium 2016.
I still think he Quintana should have gone to another team instead of signing his last contract with this team.
Re: Re:
I agree, he should have left Movistar after 2016. But these things are always more obvious in hindsight.
Koronin said:
I agree, he should have left Movistar after 2016. But these things are always more obvious in hindsight.
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