Tour de France (Stage 12), Nairo Quintana 6th overall
14th in the stage to the summit of Alpe d’Huez, Nairo Quintana is tonight 6th in the overall classification of a Tour 2022 crushed by a big heat wave.
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On the line
“I fought hard until the finish line. I set my own pace to defend my position in the general classification. I think we worked well, there were some crashes in the team, with Warren and Maxime, I hope everything will go well for them. The climb to Alpe d’Huez was very fast, it required power. I am now looking forward to the Pyrenees, its difficulties and, above all, I am sure that it will not be 35° in this massif when we climb the passes. That way, it could be different. Here, I did everything to achieve a good stage finish. We will continue to work and go forward in this Tour, remaining focused on our objectives“.
“It wasn’t an ideal course for me to take part in a breakaway, I let go six kilometers from the top of the Galibier, then I waited for the peloton. Then I helped the team on the Croix de Fer. Once on the climb of Alpe d’Huez, I took advantage, if you can say so, of the ascent of the 21 turns. It was impressive, I had never done a climb like that with so many spectators. It was huge with “olas” for 3 kilometres, very beautiful. The climb goes by faster this way, and it seems less difficult”.
Le débrief’
“Nairo followed the best riders until six kilometres from the finish, then he hung on and limited the damage. We stay focused on our goal of a good overall classification. Warren fell when he slipped off the back wheel and couldn’t catch up. Maxime who was behind him couldn’t avoid it. They were on the descent of the col de la Croix de Fer and were about to catch the yellow jersey group in which Nairo and Lukasz were.