Tour de France 2021 route: Nairo Quintana wary of time trials but relishing double Mont Ventoux ascent
The Colombian is still recovering from injuries suffered this year


Nairo Quintana has responded to the Tour de France 2021 route, saying he is excited about the two ascents of Mont Ventoux.
The Arkéa-Samsic rider is also wary of the two time trial stages, as he has often lost time against the clock.
On Sunday (November 1), the Tour de France organisers unveiled the route for next year’s race, which will depart from Brittany and will feature ascents of Ventoux, the Col de la Colombiere and a return to Tignes after the 2019 landslides.
Quintana said: “This 108th edition of the Tour de France reintroduces individual time trials, with two stages of this type scheduled, this implies that we will have to carry out very good preparation for the time trial in order to be able to tackle these two as well as possible.
“These will be very important stages for the general classification in the same way as the mountain stages, and in particular that of Ventoux, a pass that I obviously like, which will undoubtedly play a major role during this Tour de France, from same as the stages arriving at the top in the Alps and the Pyrenees.”
Quintana, a three-time podium finisher in the Tour, has struggled with injury this year and ended his season early due to knee problems.
The 30-year-old added: “I am currently diligently pursuing my post-operative rehabilitation of my two knees. I work diligently in the company of physiotherapists, with a view to the 2021 season.
“My goal remains the general classification, to try to get a podium even though I know that the competition is more and more fierce, it is a new opportunity for me to achieve this performance, and 2021 will be a better season physically for me to try to reach that goal.”
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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