Quintana: no fireworks, just glue

//Quintana: no fireworks, just glue

Quintana: no fireworks, just glue

Quintana following Froome

Where were the searing mountain attacks in Andorra from Movistar’s Nairo Quintana? Chris Froome’s most dangerous rival spent the day firmly stuck.

All the way up the long, torturous, rainy, hailstoned climb, the Colombian was content to simply stick to Froome’s wheel, never once turning a pedal in anger.

Plenty of critics wondered about the absence of attacks from Quintana, when his Movistar squad gave the impression that the big summit finish in the Pyrenees would be the place for fireworks — was it just too wet to light the matches?

It’s a fair question given that after last year’s Tour de France, Quintana admitted that perhaps he shouldn’t have waited until the final week to erase his time gap to Froome. He pulled back a minute on Alpe d’Huez but it was simply too little, too late, no yellow.

Yeah, it was cold and miserable and there were golfball-size hailstones raining down on the riders. That didn’t stop BMC’s Richie Porte from trying his luck. Irishman Dan Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) hit out repeatedly in an effort to jump ahead of Froome and gain the maillot jaune. Even the kid, white jersey leader Adam Yates, launched an attempt.

Meanwhile Nairo Quintana was permanently stuck, glued solid to Froome’s rear wheel. What did Quintana have to lose in venturing a quick counter attack? Wasn’t it worth at least a quick stab, a probing foray, a show-me-what-you-got acceleration?

This much was clear — everyone was on the limit including Froome, who had run out of teammates and had to respond to every attack himself. He expected an attack from Quintana — considering it almost inevitable — and yet nothing happened.

After the stage, Froome seemed to suggest that Quintana didn’t lack motivation, he was simply in the red, mazed out and unwilling to try something foolish. The argument was that hey, Quintana was only 23 seconds off Froome and in the brutal, backloaded Tour, all chips would go on the table late in the game.

Sure, we get that, makes perfect sense, hard to argue the logic. However there have been two surprises in the Pyrenees on consecutive days. First, Froome’s improvisational attack on the final descent yesterday that gained him valuable seconds in surpassing the Colombian. Then today, it was the lack of attack from Quintana, who had his summit finish and decided not to put the mountain to good effect.

We’ll certainly see Quintana light the fireworks in the Alps but right now he’s all glue.

By |2019-02-03T15:45:12-08:00July 11th, 2016|Uncategorized|2 Comments

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  1. The SuperStorm July 12, 2016 at 1:20 pm - Reply

    I think Al Rojas is just watching to see just how strong his opponents really are. No pressure wearing yellow. With Alberto VO5 gone and Aru seeming slow, Porte Hole, Broome Wagon, and TJ Hooker could all be there. Friday will tell alot. Ventoux awaits.

    In so many ways he reminds me of a young Chuck Mottet. Quiet and confidant, but Al has a deeper skill-set and maybe a deeper passion. He is my pick to win in Paris. It would be nice to see the Boy from Boyaca beat the hell out of the British Machine.

    Unzue certainly knows how to win as history proves. What does he have planned with Valverde and Nairo in the coming days?

    • walshworld July 15, 2016 at 10:10 am - Reply

      Super, Ventoux and the TT were pretty revealing about Quintana’s fortunes. He may well pull back time in the final week — you never know, it’s been a crazy tour and a crazy time in the world. But if Froome can survive Ventoux on foot, I think fate is agains Nairo. Matt

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