NAIRO 30 QUINTANA
Quintana is the elder statesman of the Tour’s Colombian contingent but, leading a new team, he’s determined to let his legs do the talking
Having spent all of his career at Movistar, traditionally one of the strongest teams in the peloton, Nairo Quintana appeared to have taken a step back when he opted to step down from the Worldtour ranks to join the Arkéa-samsic team at Proteam level, one rung down in the racing hierarchy. It looked an odd match from other perspectives too, not least because Quintana was joining a French team that has generally been associated more with targeting breakaways rather than competing for the overall classification.
However, this surprise move was soon hailed as an impressive transfer coup when the Colombian quickly shone in the colours of his new Breton team, racking up a string of dashing victories on French roads pre-lockdown. Winner on Mont Ventoux at the Tour de la Provence and on the Col d’èze in the Tour du Var, victories that led to overall success in both races, the 30-yearold Colombian proved that he and his new team could thrive together.
Post-lockdown Quintana has shown glimpses of good form, with a third on GC at the Tour de l’ain, and fifth on the Col de Porte summit finish at the Dauphiné ahead of a raft of fellow Tour de France contenders. However, he was forced out of the race with knee pain left over from a training crash in July. The Colombian said, via a team statement: “I preferred to quit the Critérium du Dauphiné in view of the Tour de France,” suggesting he should be back on form for the Grand Boucle.
All for Nairo?
Movistar’s policy of fielding all of their Grand Tour specialists in July has frequently appeared ill-conceived in recent seasons. Their tactics have been questioned, not least because Quintana, Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde occasionally appeared to be riding with different objectives in mind. By moving to Arkéa, Quintana has freed himself from that imbroglio, although it remains to be seen what kind of partnership he develops with Warren Barguil, the Breton who has hitherto been the GC leader at the Breton team.
Winner of two Tour stages and the King of the Mountains title in 2017, Barguil has struggled with injuries and form since joining what was then Fortuneo at the end of that season. Now his role as leader has been eclipsed. Barguil has been talking up Quintana’s arrival, but it remains to be seen how they will accommodate each other. Will Barguil forsake his own objectives to help the Colombian? Quintana’s far superior Grand Tour record and current form suggest the Frenchman will have to.