A month and a half after his latest competitive effort in big mountains and following a long recovery period in Colombia, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) came back to racing showing solid form in the hardest stage of the 39th Route du Sud. The 160-kilometer route included the Cat-1 ascents of Haut-Balestas, Val Louron and Balès en route to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon, where the Colombian took the day's 2nd place behind Alberto Contador (TCS).

Supported to the foot of the climb by a youthful Movistar squad - Marc Soler and Dayer Quintana even STUCK with him in the first 10k of Balès - Quintana responded to every single attack launched by Contador through the final 8k of the climb. Joined by Pierre-Roger Latour (ALM), who had jumped away a bit earlier, the trio crested the climb in search for a fast, technical descent where Contador left Quintana behind, an exciting contest that ended up with a 13 second gap between the Spaniard and the Colombian at the finish.

Quintana is all but certain, pending tomorrow's 166km rolling route from Revel to Gaillac, to take 2nd overall (17" back) in the GC, after two of the biggest candidates for the Tour de France, starting in Utrecht on July 4th, battled against each other in a beautiful race in the Pyrenees.

“I'm very satisfied with what I did today; it was a great test, I felt strong. Tinkoff set a high pace all stage long; it was really like a Tour de France stage, with huge speed all the way. Contador made a strong attack halfway through the climb and I could respond pretty well. At some certain point, he explained that should I take some turns, he'd let me win the stage. I told him that I wouldn't take any turns nor attack him. The roads on the descent were gritty, it made no sense to take any chances and lose everything; Contador really made a risky descent. As I said before, I'm happy with how I rode today: my body responded well to the efforts,” Nairo Quintana said.

"I did not push too hard on the Port of Balès. I had to respond to the constant attacks of Alberto (Contador).

"In the descent, we had two very fast corners. It is possible that Alberto knew aht. I braked a bit too much and created a small gap that I was unable to close. I did not win today but at least I stayed with him."