“It’s a nice result, but I would much rather try to gamble and get into the top 10”. That’s why you race.
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Quintana had said early in the race he needed at least a three-minute lead to hold off Froome s superior time trialing ability, but is hopeful of losing little more than a minute.
Three-time Vuelta victor Alberto Contador expects Colombian rider Nairo Quintana to win his first Tour of Spain in Madrid on Sunday.
“We’ll see (what happens) tomorrow and I’ll speak with my team-mates tonight”.
Sky’s British cyclist Christopher Froome approaches the finish line to win the 19th stage of the 71st edition of “La Vuelta” Tour of Spain, a 39km individual time-trial between Javea and Calpe Friday.
“I’ll speak with my team-mates tonight and let’s see, but I think Nairo Quintana with Movistar, he has a really good team around him and it is going to be hard to beat him”. After 24km, the Kenyan-born Briton was 1min 32sec ahead of Quintana, who eventually finished 11th on the stage.
Froome will have known the time trial provided his best chance to make inroads into Quintana’s previously healthy lead in the battle for the red jersey.
The Spaniard finished the stage eighth to unseat the Columbian Esteban Chaves for the third spot on the podium. “My stats weren’t bad and the important thing is I continue to have strong legs to be able to defend the lead”.
‘I’ve had to learn a lot very quickly from figures like Contador, ‘ Quintana told Marca.
That leaves Froome with 1min21 to overhaul on Stage 20, a mountain-top finish in Alto de Aitana, a 20km-climb which will decide the overall victor.
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The Aitana, in the mountain massif inland from Benidorm, is relatively long, at 22km, to a summit 1500m above sea-level, with its toughest sections coming in the final 5km. “Tomorrow is head-to-head and there is no help”, said Quintana.
