Report: Win for Quintana in Tour de San Luis

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Endura clad Nairo Quintana wins first 2014 race for Movistar Team & climbs into 2nd overall in the Tour de San Luis. Adam Yates 10th.

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Second in the 2013 Tour de France, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) proved again his impressive climbing abilities to make for a brilliant opening to Movistar Team’s 2014 season.

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The Colombian rider put on a great exhibition of climbing on the ascent of the Cerro El Amago, the highest climb of the 8th Tour de San Luis and second mountain-top finish of the race after a 169km stage four starting at Potrero de los Funes.

Always well protected by his team-mates Ventoso, Lastras and Malori, through the opening flat sections, plus Amador and Intxausti on the climbs who picked up the pace to set up the attack by Quintana for his attack right at the foot of the climb, Nairo kept Sergio Godoy (SLS) on his wheel for a couple of kilometers before riding away solo, without any opposition.

Quintana had no match – fifty seconds over the Argentinian rider, a minute and a half on Atapuma (BMC) and Moyano (SLS) and almost three minutes over Tuesday’s winner atop the Potrero -countryman Julián Arredondo (TFR). Those were the astonishing time gaps opened by Quintana, who will roll down the starting ramp of Friday’s individual time trial in the streets of the province’s capital (19km) as the penultimate rider (17.56h local, 21.56h ESP), having climbed into 2nd overall at just four seconds shy of Phil Gaimon (GRS).

It’s Nairo’s 16th victory as professional rider and the first in Argentina for the Blues in three years after the late Xavi Tondo, who conquered in 2011 the same ITT to be covered tomorrow.

Nairo Quintana said afterwards “At Potrero, the race leader climbed really well, plus the ascent was shorter and less steep; the Cerro El Amago was different, because it’s a longer climb, a more demanding one and covered in cracked cement. That’s why I could open a bigger gap.”

“I made my move and climbed strong. The team was crucial for my performance, they were always at my side, early with the chasing work and then into the climb, breaking the bunch into pieces. They were sensational.”

“This victory is dedicated to them, to my wife, my parents and my baby, who is about to be born and is the most beautiful thing in my life. He was a motivation for me and made for a special day – I felt really strong.”

“It would have been spectacular to take over the leader’s jersey, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow. I’m doing well, though I didn’t train for TT’s specifically yet this year and we will be using the Canyon bike for the first time.”

“Knowing which team he rides for, Gaimon will surely do well tomorrow. He’ll have a strong team for the remainder of the race, too – it will be a matter of waiting for our chance and taking advantage of it.”

Big Result for Yates
Neo-pro Adam Yates rode his own pace up the mountain and crossed the finish line in tenth place, just over three minutes behind the Colombian climbing sensation.

Yates jumped up to 12th overall at 3’37, strengthening his hold on the best young riders jersey and assuming the team’s top ranked position on the general classification.

Asked about the stage Adam explained “It was pretty flat for most of the day. It wasn’t really windy but every now again, it picked up – some crosswind – so they (his teammates) looked after us the most at those times to make sure we were comfortable.”

As with many mountain top finishes, the climbers will leave making their moves to that last climb, and so it proved. “It’s funny” says Adam. “It was essentially just one big climb. Straight after the cat three, there was the littlest descent and then it went straight up again. The break was only allowed four or five minutes, not much more and just before the bottom of the climb, they were brought back.”

It was really hot again in the race being ridden in a Argentinian summer which says Adam, may have had a little impact on the early action. Asked by the team what his strategy was, Adam replied “I didn’t have a strategy! We’re not really targeting the overall. We’re just taking our chances as they come.”

“We just wanted to hold on really. There are some pretty good climbers here and some local guys going quite well. Typically on a climb like this, it’s every man for himself. We can help each other now and again, but it’s hard to do that much on this type of climb. You have to go at it at your own pace”.

Read more about Adam, his build up to getting a ride with Orica-GreenEdge and more

RESULTS
1 QUINTANA Nairo, Movistar Team 04:15:33
2 GODOY Sergio Daniel, San Luis Somos Todos 00:50
3 ATAPUMA HURTADO Darwin, BMC Racing Team 01:32
4 MOYANO Enzo Josue, San Luis Somos Todos 01:39
5 EUSER Lucas, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 01:45
6 RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Miguel Angel Team Colombia 02:09
7 STETINA Peter, BMC Racing Team 02:31
8 ARREDONDO MORENO, Julian David Trek Factory Racing 02:46
9 BRAMBILLA Gianluca, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 03:04
10 YATES Adam, Orica GreenEDGE 03:05

16 CUNEGO Damiano, Lampre – Merida 04:10
17 SELLA Emanuele, Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela 04:11
18 GAIMON Phillip, Garmin – Sharp 04:15 (race leader)
26 SCARPONI Michele, Astana Pro Team
74 NIBALI Vincenzo, Astana Pro Team 16.23
79 PHINNEY Taylor, BMC Racing Team
84 BOONEN Tom, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 16:49
93 SAGAN Peter, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 19.57
116 CAVENDISH Mark, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step

OVERALL
1 GAIMON Phillip, Garmin – Sharp 16:54:41
2 QUINTANA Nairo, Movistar Team 00:04
3 DE MAAR Marc, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 01:15
4 ATAPUMA HURTADO Darwin, BMC Racing Team 01:36
5 GODOY Sergio Daniel, San Luis Somos Todos 01:45
6 MOYANO Enzo Josue, San Luis Somos Todos 01:51
7 EUSER Lucas, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 01:57
8 RUBIANO CHAVEZ Miguel Angel, Team Colombia 02:18
9 STETINA Peter, BMC Racing Team 02:32
10 ARREDONDO MORENO, Julian David Trek Factory Racing 02:47
11 SEPúLVEDA Eduardo, Bretagne- Séché Environnement 03:14
12 YATES Adam, Orica GreenEDGE 03:37

 

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