Nairo Quintana to start in Criterium du Dauphine as preparation for Tour de France
May 30 2019 05:01 am CET
Photo of Nairo Quintana
Movistar's Nairo Quintana has confirmed that he will ride the Criterium du Dauphine as part of his preparation for the Tour de France.
The Colombian rider gave a press conference in Bogota -the capital of Colombia- before heading to Europe to finish off his preparation for the French grand tour. The rider has confirmed that he will ride the Criterium du Dauphine just before the Grande Boucle.
"I am very motivated and I really want to do this right," said Quintana about his participation in the Tour de France. "All the Colombians have been waiting to be able to celebrate a victory in this race. You have to know suffering to reach glory."
Quintana started his season in Southamerica with the Vuelta a San Juan and the Tour Colombia, after which he headed to Europe to start in Paris-Nice -where he finished in the second overall position, the Volta a Catalunya and the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain. He then returned to Colombia to finish his altitude training before coming back to Europe to start in his big goal of the season, the Tour de France.
"My main objective is still the Tour de France," he mentioned. "I have worked very hard to achieve the results I want. Eusebio Unzue (Manager of Movistar) has told me that I will be the leader for the Tour, so I have been preparing for that and I hope to count on the support of my teammates."
Quintana has won the Giro d'Italia in 2014 and the Vuelta a España in 2016. The Tour de France has proven elusive for the rider, although he has finished in the second place in 2013 and 2015.
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