Nairo Quintana has had to settle for third place in the Tour de San Luis behind Dani Diaz and Rodolfo Torres and so was unable to repeat his victory from last year in his first race after his crash in the Vuelta a Espana.
"Third place is right for me," he admitted. "The first two were better. I tried to beat them but I could not. I'm happy because the two times I've raced here, I have finished first and third.”
Quintana praises the qualities of winner Dani Diaz: "He is a powerful rider, I had not expected that. I was a little surprised. He is very strong. I hope to see him again in other races and that he can maintain that strength. He deserves a chance.”
Quintana draws a positive balance from the race. “I have seen that people have liked me a lot. It was something very special and I will always carry it as a memory. I wanted to win a stage and fight for the GC. I failed but I am calm because my data tells me that I am at the same level as last year even though I haven’t raced since the Vuelta.”
"It's important because the last time I raced I had an unfortunate crash and be on the podium in the first race I do is good, but of course I am a competitor and I will always be so,” he added after the final stage.
Quintana confirmed his upcoming schedule: "I have a series of races in Europe, Andalusia, Tirreno-Adriatico, Pais Vasco, some classics and then I will return to Colombia to continue the preparation for the Tour de France."
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01.05: Eschborn-Frankfurt |
01.05: GP Vorarlberg |
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03.05: La Classique Morbihan |
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