CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador. It's obvious that we can never leave Chris Froome out of sight - everyone has their way to take advantage of the rival's weaknesses - but, I insist, I see those as biggest c...

Photo: Sirotti

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

MOVISTAR TEAM

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

NAIRO QUINTANA

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

TOUR DE FRANCE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS
03.07.2015 @ 17:19 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Packed with an amount of media and expectation almost never seen in the squad's history, the Movistar Team duo formed by Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde spoke to the media on Friday at the 2015 Tour de France's Press Center in the Jaarbeurs of Utrecht, analysing their goals and leaving some details on the strategy the Eusebio Unzué-led squad will follow during the next three weeks.

 

Quintana, who will take an early start tomorrow in the opening 13.8km ITT (15.00 CET, 8am Colombian time), due to “team organisation reasons and also to give priority to some guys on the squad who can do well time trial", feels confident about his chances.

 

“I have prepared myself well for the challenge; I like the route, which I think should favour my conditions. The biggest weapon for the race will be my team, which will give everything to take me to the place I should be in order to fight for the GC. Of course, having Alejandro by my side is a massive boost in our favour. He was an idol for me when I was starting as a bike rider, we always got on with each other well, I helped him out in those moments when he was the leader, and we always rode well together - he's a great team-mate and friend."

 

The start of this year's Grande Boucle for Quintana is "completely different" to 2013.

 

"I was quite more nervous two years ago; now I have a different mentality, knowing that I'm leading the team and also keeping in mind that all team-mates will take care of me. Should everything go as we wish, I hope to fight for the overall title."

 

For this quest, Quintana appoints two main rivals: "Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador. It's obvious that we can never leave Chris Froome out of sight - everyone has their way to take advantage of the rival's weaknesses - but, I insist, I see those as biggest contenders and the hardest rivals to beat are those two."

 

Asked about the cobblestones on stage four, Quintana explained that “we did some racing and trained a couple of times over them, and I like it - it's something different,and even though it's not my terrain, I think I shouldn't do really bad. Helped out by my team, I feel like we might get well through it.”

 

In turn, Valverde - the last of the Movistar Team riders to start tomorrow (17.13 CET) - relies on “the strength and guarantees of success that Nairo offers. He's got the condition, the climbing route in this year's Tour really suits him well, and for me, he's the strongest guy on paper. There will of course be strong rivals, it will be hard, we'll have to fight a lot... but we've got a strong team. I'll try to support him as much as I can.”

 

And he reasserts his words from previous occassions about the leading condition by the Boyacá-born rider: “We're coming here with a clear goal in mind: winning the Tour with Nairo. The race is long and there are chances for everyone, but first comes first: yellow in Paris with him is our main priority. There are some good stages for me, like Huy's on Monday, but the goal is winning overall in Paris. Shouldn't my tactics spoil the overall strategy of the team, I'll fight for those opportunities that show up for me. We'll be aiming to stay at front with Nairo and lose as little time as possible, to play both cards, but if there's a moment when he needs everything from me to solve a difficult situation, I'll give everything without any hesitation."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Chanhyeok IM
23 years | today
Damiano PEDRANA
28 years | today
Valentina PANIAGUA
30 years | today
Isabelle CARNES
20 years | today
Inés CASTANO
25 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com