Tour de France - Nairo Quintana: I knew this could be a great day for me
Jul 25 2019 11:41 pm CET
Photo of Nairo Quintana
Movistar's Nairo Quintana was the strongest man on the first day in the Alps in the 18th stage of the Tour de France. The Colombian crossed the finish line by himself.
One year after taking another stage victory in the 2018 edition of the French grand tour, the Colombian raised his hands again at the finish line. He was part of the escape of the day and launched an attack in the last climb of the day of the Col du Galibier, and created a gap big enough to cross the finish line by himself.
"This reflects all the work that we have done, we have worked hard and well but things haven't turned up the way we wanted to," said the rider at the end of the stage. "We kept going and kept insisting, I knew this could be a great day for me and I talked to the team to come out with different kinds of strategies and finally we got a stage victory. We were also trying for Mikel (Landa) to climb a few positions.
"It was a good day for me and this is a victory for the entire team, which has worked very hard from the beginning fo the Tour. They have helped me a lot and there was a lot of sadness when a lost time but I want to dedicate this victory to them, to my family, to my people and to my country, which has supported me in the good and the bad days."
Quintana was very happy and emotional at the finish line and has found a reward in this difficult race for him. "It is very exciting to win a stage like this," he explained. "This was a day for the real climbers and I was here present. We went through very beautiful climbs, I already knew them because in other Tours we have gone through them towards one side and towards the other. These climbs are very exciting for me."
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