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EFE · Road Competition · 09/07/2020
At 30 years old and with three podium finishes in the Tour de France behind him, Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arka-Samic) plays the experience card to once again be among the best in this edition of the French round: “The ground remains I like”.
The Arka-Samic cyclist disputes his seventh Tour de France and his fifteenth great lap. In Paris he was second in 2013 and 2015 and third in 2016 and won the Vuelta a Espaa in 2016 and the Giro d’Italia in 2014.
His palmars contrasts with that of his main rivals, more neophytes on the Tour, in many cases debutants in a race that Quintana knows to perfection, which allows him to calmly face the remainder of the competition despite having lost 11 seconds in the race. second Pyrenean stage.
“I had a bad day, but we managed to reduce the losses. Eleven seconds is not much. After the first week, with everything that has happened, the wind, the falls, the mountains, … the balance is very good for me. “said the Colombian during the first rest day of the race.
Quintana is in fifth position 32 seconds behind the leader, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, a position that his team considers very positive to face the rest of the Tour.
“Most of the days I have been able to be with the best. The sensations I have are good and there is a lot of Tour ahead,” says the Colombian, who hopes to return to the podium in Paris and do so on the highest step.
ATTENTION TO POGACAR
Among his rivals, Quintana highlights the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), the most offensive in the two Pyrenees stages, which allowed him to recover part of the rent yielded in a fan on the seventh day.
“All the favorites are very similar, but it is true that Pogacar has a plus. He is daring and has the strength to attack. He is the man who has been superior in the mountains. Fortunately we bought him some time on the plains, which he does that the differences are not important, “he said.
The one from Boyac believes that the young Slovenian, who at 21 years old is contesting his second grand tour, has also shown that he can endure the duration of the Tour.
“We have the reference to last year’s La Vuelta and he did the same thing as here: when the leaders no longer have companions, he attacks with a power that few can follow, which raises doubts to others. He has shown proof of his strength and his cunning, “he indicated.
In spite of everything, Quintana considers that his performance in three weeks “may be unknown.”
His team manager, Yvon Ledanois, thinks something similar, for whom Nairo is in an ideal position, although he is not satisfied with finishing fifth on the Tour.
“I did not sign fifth place, we have not come to that. We have seen interesting things that make us think that we can hope for better. In view of his state, finishing like this would be disappointing,” said the Frenchman.
SIX FAVORITES
Ledanois also trusts the veteran of the Colombian, who can be the differentiating element with respect to her rivals.
“Everyone can have a bad day, but Nairo and his experience, if he doesn’t have a faint, can lead him to run to win the Tour,” he says.
The director points out that, after the first week, of the 20 favorites for the final victory, “five or six” remain, among which he places his head of ranks, without revealing who the others are.
His sights are set on the Alps, stages that Ledanois believes benefit Quintana more than those that have already been overcome. “This is going to be played in three stages and in the time trial. You have to be strong there.”
The director regretted the loss of the Italian Diego Rosa, who had to leave for one fall, forcing the French Warren Barguil to assume more responsibilities as a gregarious man.
The former winner of the King of the Mountain jersey said he was ready to fulfill those obligations and help Quintana, whom he sees in a good position to win the Tour.
Luis Miguel Pascual
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