Tour de France (st. 7)
Nairo Quintana -still 9th overall- and whole Movistar Team complete another flawless ride against the win towards Nuits-Saint-Georges; Blues ready for second mountain block in the 2017 Tour, over Les Rousses (Saturday) and the Mont du Chat (Sunday)
The most dangerous day in the 2017 Tour de France when it comes to the wind – most of the 213.5km from Troyes to Nuits-Saint-Georges covered on exposed roads – saw Nairo Quintana and his Movistar team-mates managing well their nerves and always keeping the front. The Colombian crossed the finish line inside the main field to complete the long on-bike transfer between the Vosges and the two days in the Jura mountains.
“It was another day of intense heat, but we basically got through it very well. We’re already thinking about Saturday and Sunday, two days where we hope to find our best legs. Systems seem to work well at the moment, and we’re ready for what’s to come. Our body seems to be recovering OK,” was Quintana’s quick overview of a day where, as with every July 7th, the squad managed by Eusebio Unzué put on red scarfs to celebrate San Fermín, the patron saint of their home region Navarra.
Marcel Kittel (QST) claimed a milimeter-tight sprint against Edvald Boasson Hagen (DDD), with no gaps whatsoever between the GC contenders. Quintana remains in 9th place, 54” after Chris Froome (SKY), before a really lumpy weekend, with three climbs -La Joux (Cat-2), Viry (Cat-2) and Combe de Laisia Les Molunes (Cat-1)- on the second half of Saturday’s stage eight to Les Rousses, plus seven (!) on Sunday, including the ‘Hors Categorie’ cols of La Biche, Grand Colombier and the steep and twisty Mont du Chat.