I love all these comments about Quintana. The unsaid thing is how people expect him to be somehow better. He has shown he is the 2nd best rider (Froome is #1, no question) but shown a more complete resume. Only a young Contador had something similar and that's a compliment. We all expect nothing but a win at the Tour as a good season for him. Why? because he has NEVER FINISHED LOWER THAN 3rd at the TOUR.
at 22: 1st overall Vuelta a Murcia, 1st overall Route de Sud, 1st at Giro Dell'Emilia
at 23: 1st overall at Pais Vasco (Basque Country), 1st overall at Burgos, 2nd overall at Tour
at 24: 1st overall at Giro, 1st overall at Burgos, 1st overall at San Luis.
at 25: 1st overall at Tirreno-Adriatico, 2nd overall at Tour de France, 4th overall at Vuelta
at 26: 1st overall at Vuelta, 1st overall at Catalunya, 1st overall Romandie, 1st overall at Route du Sud, 3rd overall at Tour.
He has attempted 3 Tour de France. Came in 2nd, 2nd, 3rd. Not counting his mountain or young rider jerseys in any race, mind you.
The comments that he was sick, or not his best, or didn't try, etc...still podiumed. He was weak. Still podiumed. Think about that.
He was sick at the Giro, still won it. He was sick at the Vuelta in 2014. Still was leading it until the crash. And then the 2nd crash took him out. Mountains hadn't even started then... Hate all you want, accept that he has a higher standard than you realize. Only 4 riders in that level. Froome (anything less than 1st is bad). Contador (he is at the tail end of career, no expectations). Nibali (Also needs to win to have a good season). Any other rider. ANY OTHER RIDER that finishes 3rd at the Tour is considered a career event. Think about that.