Diminutive Colombian rider Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the final summit finish to Lagunas de Neila in the Vuelta a Burgos with a sufficiently big breach to claim the overall classification triumph besides the stage win.
On the final ascent, Quintana launched his move with approximately one kilometre to go to leave the likes of Ivan Basso (Cannondale), David Arroyo (Caja Rural) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) in his wake.
"It all turned out perfectly, just like we planned it before starting the race,” Quintana explained after his double stage-overall triumph. “We were hoping to lose as little time as possible in the days prior to this stage to try and win the race on the Queen one. The climb suits lighter specialists well, and the team worked perfectly so I could deliver. It's not that I feared a loss, but with such strong rivals, in great condition leading up to the Vuelta a España, I had some doubts about being able to stay on their wheel or lose it. I spent the whole stage at the front and that costs you some more energy, but when I saw them losing a bit of spirit, I attacked and it all came to fruition. The team was sensational: they supported me throughout the race so I neither suffered crashes nor lost any time, and they were protecting me until the last climb today - I was really calm thanks to them. They relied on me all season long - they were even more convinced of my own chances than I was myself. They really knew that, when we were committed to win, we would be doing our best and achieve it. Now it's time to travel back to Colombia, take a bit of rest and getting into preparations for the Worlds."
Watch the conclusion of the final stage from the Vuelta a Burgos right here:
20.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
17.04 - 21.04: Tour de Tunisie |
18.04 - 21.04: Eroica Juniores |
19.04 - 21.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
20.04 - 21.04: Gipuzkoa Klasika |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège |
21.04: Giro della Romagna |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem U23 |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem Junior |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes |
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Dylan VANDENSTORME 22 years | today |
Jose Ramon MUNIZ 22 years | today |
Dor Ming CHAU 41 years | today |
Valentina PANIAGUA 30 years | today |
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