Nairo Quintana about 2019 season: I will likely go to the Tour de France
Sep 17 2018 06:14 am CET
Photo of Nairo Quintana
The 2018 Vuelta a España was not the race Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was expecting but he is already thinking of the upcoming season. He started the race as one of the biggest favourites and finished in the eighth position of the General Classification.
At the beginning of the last week of the race Quintana still had chances to top the overall standings, but after the time trial and the stage of the Balcon de Bizkaia, all the chances seemed to be gone. After that day, the Colombian rode to help his teammate Alejandro Valverde, but things didn't turn out well with him either.
"It's a sad day," the Colombian commented to the Spanish newspaper Marca. "We didn't reach our objectives. (Alejandro) Valverde couldn't get onto the podium and I finished without winning a stage. It is very difficult to win and that is at times overlooked."
"We will have time to think and see where we failed. We will have to evaluate the situation and that will be done calmly. We will have to do that work to reach our maximum level again."
After this, Quintana will prepare to start at the World Championships road race, in which he will have the company of a strong Colombian selection that includes riders like Rigoberto Uran and Miguel Angel Lopez. "It is a course that suits us very well," the rider said.
"We will have to hold on and get to the end to see who can win. The leadership will be decided at the moment, depending on who is there. We will have to take advantage of this great Colombian team we have and take the victory."
The rider also had a moment to think about the objectives for next season. "I will likely go to the Tour de France. We will see how and with whom, and that will be decided at the end of the season."
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