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EFE · Road Competition · 09/14/2020
The Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arka-Samic) arrived with the ambition to win the Tour de France, but the succession of falls has left consequences on his body that ended up crystallizing in the first stage with a special category finish, when he almost stopped. 4 minutes and many options.
“I feel anger and sadness,” said the leader of Arka-Samic during the second day of rest at the foot of the Alps, one day after a fainting spell on the ascent to the Grand Colombier relegated him to the 9th place in the general classification. 5 minutes from the leader, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).
The one from Boyac suffered from the three falls suffered since the start of the race, especially the last one, when they descended a port at more than 40 kilometers per hour.
“The last two falls have been very strong and the last one has caused me an allergic reaction with blisters all over my body and a lot of pain. I have been there for three days and the pain continues as at the beginning”, assured Quintana.
His options now depend on how he physically recovers from those injuries, which are also seen in the ribs, elbows, back, hips, but he promises to keep fighting to move up in the general classification.
KEEP GIVING WAR
“The goal is to keep going. We don’t know if podium or top 5, the important thing is to make a good general. Despite all the ailments that I have, I have to continue, that’s what identifies me. Let’s come very well for this Tour, Every day we have done very well, but they are things that you do not choose, they are inevitable, it has touched us again, “he said.
Quintana said he felt “screwed” because his ambition was maximum, but he does not renounce to finish as high as possible.
The time given at the Grand Colombier does not rule him out for the general, so he finds it difficult to be allowed to enter breaks, as happened last year, when he collapsed at the Tourmalet and ended up winning at Valloire.
“But if I am healthy I will not stay without trying something, we will go to Paris and until the last day fighting,” he commented.
Quintana is now more than 3 and a half minutes from third place, held by his compatriot Rigoberto Urn (Education First), and although there are many applicants for that position, the Colombian does not rule out weaknesses in the remainder of his career.
The Colombian acknowledges that the two Slovenians, Roglic and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), second overall, are very strong and believes that they had a better preparation by not having to be confined for so long.
WINNING THE TOUR, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
In addition, he stressed that the level this year is higher, as all the teams brought their best men because there is not much competition and they are eager to stand out to secure contracts and sponsorships for the future.
Its sports director, Yvon Ledanois, considered, for his part, that “winning the Tour de France It is mission impossible “, due to the fall of Nairo and the strength of the two Slovenians, but he added that the race” is not over “and that his leader of the ranks will not be satisfied with the third position.
“Team morale is good. We arrived with ambition and we continue to have it. We will try to finish as high as possible,” he said.
Hope is set on the alpine stages, especially on next Wednesday, ending at Col de la Loze and a previous pass through Madeleine, the only two 2,000-meter peaks of the edition, a terrain where they believe that Quintana may be more offensive.
Arkea manager, Emmanuel Hubert, for his part, thanked Quintana’s sacrifice in these circumstances: “Many runners in his situation would have abandoned. He is a warrior and he wants to make us enjoy even though he is suffering.”
Luis Miguel Pascual
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