Lay down the weed.
This might have been the best tactic Movistar has used in years.
This might have been the best tactic Movistar has used in years.
- Aug 6, 2014
- 9,848
- 7,055
- 23,180
When Valverde produces gas you call it perfume. How can one be so delusional?
I'm not convinced it was a "tactic," I think Quintana just saw what what was happening and jumped on it -- he doesn't have a lot of loyalty to Movistar at this point. But honestly it worked out for the best...if he and Valverde can hold on they'll have 2 on the podium, maybe not in their preferred order but so what?
Yesterday was a special day...having a split that early, on a flattish stage? C'mon...no one could have foreseen that. We'd have been sh***g ourselves if Quintana had taken the red jersey. As a fan it would have been fabulous.
And it's great to see mid-career Quintana as a long-range attack specialist, even if he's not particularly useful as a super-dom...
Today I expect Lopez and Pogacar to attack at some point...surely one of the two will be able to follow.
On the third hand, I think the entire peloton is cooked and we might just see a procession until the final climb...
Yesterday was a special day...having a split that early, on a flattish stage? C'mon...no one could have foreseen that. We'd have been sh***g ourselves if Quintana had taken the red jersey. As a fan it would have been fabulous.
And it's great to see mid-career Quintana as a long-range attack specialist, even if he's not particularly useful as a super-dom...
Today I expect Lopez and Pogacar to attack at some point...surely one of the two will be able to follow.
On the third hand, I think the entire peloton is cooked and we might just see a procession until the final climb...
I really do not like either Valverde, Quintana, Unzué or Movistar.
After all it is a team sponsorized by a telephone company that has controversial customer politics and that is hereditary of the old National telephone company, so they are using public infrastructure built during many years to their own private interests.
They really support Real Madrid, which I hate. Many years ago they used their long handsand contacts to attack ONCE and steal Contador.
I have to say that I wrote all that yesterday without knowing the results all yestarday's stage. I just discovered it now. What a surprise!
Well, all ready for today's stage. It could be interesting.
- Jun 6, 2017
- 6,170
- 3,703
- 23,180
This Vuelta is such a great race thanks to Nairo. He's wrecking havoc while being in no kind of shape (considering the rider he is (was)). While sucking he still managed to do spectacular things the last years and although I would probably rather have seen him become the stellar multi-tdf-champ-one-and-only-froome-crusher he seemed destined to be, this is something very special.
Hope he can keep it together for the podium, but seems doubtful.
Hope he can keep it together for the podium, but seems doubtful.
Hahahahah implying Valverde would attack like Quintana, this isn’t the Mallorca challenge
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,600
- 6,854
- 28,180
I am not sure about that. You will have Movistar and Jumbo working together believe it or not. It will certainly be harder for Lopez because they are mostly power climbs.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,942
- 44,327
- 28,180
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,600
- 6,854
- 28,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,942
- 44,327
- 28,180
Just the 1.
Lot depends on what breakaway gets away and how the GC group splits. If Quintana gets dropped by a 5 man group again I don't see him hanging on to his podium.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,997
- 26,005
- 28,180
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,600
- 6,854
- 28,180
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,686
- 27,791
- 28,180
Why does his attack at the bottom of Santuario del Acebo not count?
It wasn't an attack like Quintana's mountain attacks, because it lasted, so you're right there.
There's rain predicted for Saturday's stage. That should somehow favour Nuyro Van Kintanen.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,997
- 26,005
- 28,180
Quintana the classics rider / sprinter / crosswind specialist.
- Jul 24, 2016
- 2,267
- 457
- 6,580
I keep thinking of stage 15 of the 2016 Vuelta. OK, that was Contador's instigation, but Nairo was right there, too, taking turns at the front with hair on fire. One of my favorite stages, ever. For whatever reason, Quintana doesn't quite have the strength that he carried just a few years ago, and yet he is still only 29. One hopes he might rediscover that lightning in a bottle at some point in the next year or so, even if the passing of time seems to indicate otherwise.
- Oct 14, 2017
- 12,196
- 3,232
- 23,180
I will say he didn't lose as much time today as I thought he might have. It appears that getting better in the crosswinds has hurt his climbing. Now that could just be the inconsistency he's been showing over the past couple of seasons, but it there even if it's not an out right cause and effect.
- May 23, 2009
- 10,256
- 1,455
- 25,680
Maybe he went too deep too young? Quintana won the Tour de l'Avenir at 20, rode it again at 21, then raced the Vuelta at 22 where he was Valverde's main domestique, climbing with the GC contenders on every mountain stage. Then it was straight into riding for GC at every major stage race he started in 2013.
I've heard a few people suggest that the majority of riders have a shelf life at the very top of the sport, and I'm starting to come around to that conclusion.
I've heard a few people suggest that the majority of riders have a shelf life at the very top of the sport, and I'm starting to come around to that conclusion.
- Oct 14, 2017
- 12,196
- 3,232
- 23,180
I'd thought it was more an age thing, however a shelf life may be more accurate. It may also have to do with the age of when they hit their peak or ceiling. It does feel that riders who hit that at a younger age decline faster than those who hit it at a little older age.
He says he's 29, but he looks like he's about 50. Maybe he is actually 50, which is why he's declining!?
Perhaps Valverde will start to decline too when he reaches Quintana's age...?
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