Nairo Quintana celebrated his 29th birthday in San Juan on Monday, perhaps taking a moment to reflect on his life and career and realise that he is entering his most important season.
Despite a recent lack of success in Grand Tours, and the emergence of other Colombian Grand Tour contenders such as Rigoberto Uran, Esteban Chaves, Miguel Angel Lopez and, especially, Egan Bernal, Quintana is still an idol in Colombia, a team leader at Movistar and he is recognised as one of the best climbers in the peloton.
He won the Giro d’Italia in 2014, the Vuelta a Espana in 2016 and has finished on the podium three times at the Tour de France. Quintana seemed on the cusp of becoming the first Colombian rider to win the Tour de France, but in recent years he has struggled against the dominance and efficiency of Team Sky and has suffered with internal rivalry at Movistar that was perhaps created to inspire him to victory in France.
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Last year Quintana finished 10th overall at the Tour de France behind winner Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) after Movistar opted to go with three leaders: Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa. Valverde finished 14th and Landa a slightly better seventh, but a lack of clear leadership backfired and left Quintana questioning if Movistar remain the best team for him to try to win the Tour de France in the final years of his career.
Quintana’s contract with Movistar ends this year, and there has been little talk of a new offer for 2020. The summer, and particularly the Tour de France, will mark a crossroads in Quintana's career. If he can get back to his best, when his searing attacks in the mountains made everyone suffer and he was able to open decisive time gaps, then he will remain Colombia’s best Grand Tour contender. Otherwise, he may have to move aside and accept his best years are behind him.
“Another year comes and goes and I’m not a young guy anymore, but I’m not past it either. My numbers are still good, and I’m not tired. I’m not going to retire any time soon,” Quintana responds during a relaxed and intimate interview with the media present at San Juan, including Cyclingnews.
Keeping the Tour de France dream alive
Landa and the future
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/nairo-quintana-still-dreaming-of-tour-de-france-success
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