Quintana told: we’re coming

Foligno – Colombia’s Nairo Quintana (above) has been warned not to get too comfortable in the Giro d’Italia pink jersey by rivals looking to loosen his grip in the race’s first time trial today.

Movistar climbing specialist Quintana, the 2014 champion, took a firm grip on the 100th edition of the race on Sunday after attacking in the final kilometres of a 13.6km climb to the summit of Blockhaus.

The two-time Tour de France runner-up now leads Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) overall by 28 and 31sec respectively after a drama-filled stage that virtually ended the hopes of Team Sky.

After yesterday’s rest day, the battle for the jersey continues with a 39.8km time trial.

Although undulating most of the way, it may not be hard enough to keep Quintana – who excels on steep climbs – in the race lead, especially as Pinot, Nibali and Dumoulin are no shirkers.

“Quintana showed he was the strongest today (Sunday),” said Pinot, the French national time trial champion who is also one of the top climbers in the peloton.

“But there’s still a lot of racing to be done and a lot of things that can happen on this Giro.”

“I should take some time back off him (Quintana) in the time trial,” Nibali said after finishing fifth on Sunday’s stage at one minute behind.

But it is Dumoulin, who fought back from being dropped on Blockhaus to overtake Italy’s defending champion Vincenzo Nibali and cross the line 24sec behind Quintana with Pinot, who is the real danger. –