Nairo Quintana accepts the decision of Eusebio Unzué to contest the Giro d'Italia and not the Tour de France, and is responsible for leading the Movistar Team in the Giro in order to repeat at least the podium he achieved in Paris last year.
The Colombian cyclist spoke to the media after the official presentation of Team Movistar on the stage and warned that the birth of his daughter "was a matter of hours." Therefore, the suitcase was out to get him to the airport to join his family. Before, leaving their impression of the season ahead and the fact not ride the Giro and the Tour. "The truth is that it was a good decision taken by Eusebius (Unzué) for the benefit of the whole team, for me, Alejandro (Valverde), and mainly from sponsors. Yes I wanted to ride the Tour, but so did Alejandro. They needed a leader for the Giro ... And I have many years to prove myself in the Tour, "he says.
His goal, as he had said before, is to be back in the top of a Grand Tour. The stakes are high. "I hope to be back to a podium, improve Paris in Italy, and to have a good race with the team. It is a responsibility, but I like it. I feel good and I think I can do. The important thing is to go step-by-step".
And he knows he has work to do to be more complete. "I have to make progress in a bit, especially in the individual time trial I have to improve a lot, work on the Giro face without losing the tone of the rally," he says.
Rivals will not go missing and he shows great respect for them. Colombian cyclist has pointed to some of them, " Joaquim Rodríguez is pretty strong and intelligent, and with a good team, you have to be careful enough with him; Horner, who has joined Lampre ; Evans, an important man and podium his first race this season; Porte, a climber and very good time trialist... with men of this magnitude must be taken into account."
The Tour of Spain will be his second goal of the season. He will lead with Valverde in principle. "They are similar journeys. The Tour of Spain has its high points that I like a lot, when it comes to mountain stages I like all these. I think now we're primarily thinking about the Giro, wait to see what comes out, rest well and then prepare for the Vuelta when we go with Alejandro" We will face the race as in the Tour last year. Sure you 're both well and depending on how the race will give us evidence on who is better."
He knows he has started at a high level in San Luis, with his display at Cerro El Feint and his final triumph, but not worried. "I started well, yes. Worked well in my house, in altitude, at 2,800 meters, is very good, and had a good team, a luxury brokers. When done right teamwork is difficult not to leave things well. Now the rate will go down a bit, it's going to be a quiet month of racing and will return later. The Volta a Catalunya is a small target, "he says.
Quintana feels very happy with the additions of the team in 2014, " Eusebio has made some new signings sure we will come in handy, as Sütterlin or Malori, time trialists who can help us in the flat and the wind, or climbers as Anton . Brokers are all kinds and that gives peace of mind, "he says. And beside his brother will Dayer will provide significant support. "I'm calm and confidence, I feel more together. I like to be close to him, " he concludes.
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