Former Giro d’Italia winner Nairo Quintana has provided a spirited defence of Tadej Pogačar and UAE Workforce Emirates’ quest for as many Giro d’Italia stage victories as doable, saying that whereas he and Movistar adopted a unique technique when he was dominating in Grand Excursions, different ways are equally legitimate.
Presently, thirty first total, Quintana indicated pre-race that he would chase stage wins fairly than his preliminary goal of a excessive GC end. He’s slated to journey in help of teammate Enric Mas on the Vuelta a España later within the yr.
The Colombian fell sufferer to UAE Workforce Emirates collective choice to go for a stage win with Pogačar on Saturday when a promising-looking 14-man early break during which he took half was reeled in by the maglia rosa’s staff on the ultimate climb, the Prati di Tivo.
However because the 34-year-old veteran instructed Cyclingnews on the stage 9 begin at Avezzano, Pogačar’s relative youth partly defined his and staff’s ultra-ambitious stance. Moreover, Quintana stated, when it got here to combating for victories and going for stage wins, no single technique was essentially the proper one.
“There’s a Colombian tune on the market which says ‘Yo tambien tuve quince años’ – [‘I was 15 once too’ – Ed.] so I simply put myself in his place,” he argued.
“Every chief does what he desires and that’s completely acceptable, he’s having fun with doing it that approach.”
Again in his day when he was profitable Grand Excursions, Quintana stated, “We did it in a different way. We gave different groups their likelihood to win. However his method is completely acceptable as properly.”
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The winner of the Giro d’Italia again in 2014 and second total in 2017, Quintana stated that he was something however stunned that Pogačar was already so well-positioned to say the general victory. Nonetheless, he warned that the battle for the GC was something however over.
“For positive there will probably be some huge battles to return. However all of us knew from day one he was the large favorite, that he would probably fulfil all of the expectations everyone had of him on this yr’s Giro, and that’s precisely what he’s doing.”
Quintana had come into the Giro d’Italia with a greater than uneven begin to the season, which was preceded by a tumultuous 2023.
The Giro d’Italia is his first Grand Tour after a return to racing this season ended a year-long hiatus following his optimistic for tramadol within the Tour de France 2022. On the time tramadol was not punishable with a suspension, however he parted firm with Arkea-Samsic, and at last started a second stint with former staff Movistar in 2024.
Quintana contracted COVID-19 on the Tour Colombia, nevertheless, which delayed the beginning of his European season, whereas a crash on the Volta a Catalunya left Quintana with a displaced collarbone and put his 2024 Giro participation doubtful.
Lastly, although, he takes half within the Giro, and stage 8 noticed him on the assault for the primary time, sooner than had been anticipated, with the later climbing days his most important goal.
With a stage win for Pelayo Sanchez on stage 6, “It’s been a very good week for us with Einer [Rubio, eighth overall at 5:28 – Ed.] within the high ten, too, and we’re hoping he’ll do even higher,” he identified. “Then the mountains ought to favour us within the third week as properly.”
Quintana stated he had not been anticipating to get into a giant transfer so quickly, however “It was a break with all of the groups in there, and we couldn’t be lacking from that. Our staff wasn’t a part of it at first, however we obtained two of us into it, and we have been hoping to get away.”
Though that transfer did not work out, the subsequent step, he argued, was to get into the climbing levels within the third week. The Giro’s ascent of the Stelvio on stage 16, the place he launched a transfer that successfully gained him the 2014 race, was one thing he was wanting ahead to particularly.
“That’s one which brings me good recollections, and it might be one in every of them for me. However,” he added with a smile, “let’s see what the chief’s staff has to say about that, too.”
