Nairo Quintana: I'll take the yellow jersey in the mountains
Movistar's Nairo Quintana is still confident of overcoming the deficit on Chris Froome at the Tour de France, predicting he'll take yellow in the Alps

Nairo Quintana has lost time to Sky's Chris Froome, but he and his team are not resigning themselves to second place in the Tour de France.
Quintana, who was welcomed like a king stepping out of his palace as he exited the Movistar bus before stage 12, "does not know fear", according to his team.
Nairo stepped off the bus in the white jersey of the best young rider. He also won it in 2013, as well as the polka dot jersey and placed second overall to Froome. This year his goal is still the yellow jersey.
"We are going to take the jersey with an attack or just to ride Froome off our wheels in the mountain stages," Quintana told Cycling Weekly.
"Our team is strong, we are going well, also with Alejandro [Valverde], who is going very well. No, the race isn't over. If I'm able to, I'll ride clear."
Fans crowded in closely. Further, past the barriers, they chanted: "Nairo! Nairo! Nairo!"
Movistar plans to position five-foot-six Quintana for a lethal attack in the coming days. The win, just like the one he took at the 2014 Giro d'Italia, is within reach, they say.
Even with the time loss in the cross-winds of stage two and nearly a minute on La Pierre-Saint-Martin on Tuesday, Movistar’s captain is not simply going to hand Froome another title.
"Sky are strong,” he added, “but the team is trying to manage the race and is to an attack."
Quintana began to fight his way through the fans to reach the stage sign in on Thursday in Lannemezan, southwest France.
"Nairo does not know fear," Team Manager Eusebio Unzué said
"We are convinced the win is possible, we are working for it. The overall classification is still open and not closed down.
"We are still faithful that Nairo can find a magnificent day to recover his time and put Froome in difficultly."
Unzué, who guided Miguel Indurain and Alejandro Valverde, admitted Sky raced a perfect first week and could draw on the firepower from Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte in the final of a mountain stage.
"They are better; they raced the first week perfectly. The other day, on the first mountaintop finish, they were perfect," he said.
"At the moment, it's a bit difficult for us, Alejandro can match Thomas, but we don't have a third rider like Porte. However, let's see, the Tour has many twists and turns."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Where next for Nairo Quintana? Colombian claims he'll still be at WorldTour races
Bahrain-Victorious say no, Movistar are full, Astana-Qazaqstan and AG2R-Citroën have already denied interest
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s Tour de France tramadol disqualification upheld
CAS uphold the UCI decision to disqualify the Colombian after painkiller detected in blood tests
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
By Tom Davidson • Published