Before a strong stage on Spain’s Tenerife island, Nairo Quintana is currently at the Route du Sud. The Colombian rider hopes to improve his physical condition in order to be at the top in the Tour de France. He thinks that this race was good to be in better form.

"The Route du Sud is a race I like a lot. I’m expecting to be able to get up to full race speed here, so without pushing myself too hard here, it’s ideal for me", he explained according to Cyclingnews. "I hope to have a good race here, and my victory here in 2012 was a good one. But my objectives were different back then, it was a different moment."

With Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) and Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale Garmin), he chose the Route du Sud to begin his final build-up. "Those climbs are going to be an important reference point for me", Quintana agreed. "As a rider, I’ve definitely moved forwards since winning the Giro d’Italia last year," Quintana said, "I’ve stepped up in terms of race strategy, how to save as much energy as possible, and the way the team and I work together. Physically, too, I’m in good shape."

But he does not want that we say that he is the big favourite for the Tour de France. "Everybody is on a good level. They’ve all shown their strength in different races, Froome has won several, Nibali rode really well on one stage in the Dauphiné and Contador’s already won the Giro. After resting up a lot this month, I’m sure he’ll be in good shape too for the Tour."

"The Tour for sure is going to be a very dramatic race, because I’d say unlike in other years, there’s not just one or two riders who can win the Tour, or even four, this time there are maybe ten who have a chance of doing it."