Nairo Quintana has moved up to second overall in the Tour de Suisse after winning today’s seventh stage from Eschenbach/Atzmännig to Arosa. The Colombian climber put in a long-range attack on the summit finish and finished 22″ ahead of Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and Richie Porte (BMC Racing) who held onto his yellow jersey but Quintana has closed the gap to 17″.
A large breakaway of 29 riders went clear early on which included Quintana’s team-mate Víctor de la Parte and Porte’s team-mate Greg Van Avermaet.
At the first of two tough sections on the final climb, Quintana jumped off the front of the GC group but was brought back by Porte’s group. He attacked again quickly overtaking many of the early escapees.
De la Parte was caught by Quintana and started taking big turns which helped the Colombian maintain his lead as Van Avermaet and Tejay Van Garderen helped Porte behind.
Porte couldn’t ultimately bridge back in those final kilometres to Quintana, who raised his arms victorious for the 38th time as professional rider. Quintana has climbed up to 2nd overall, 17″ behind Porte, before the last two stages in Bellinzona: a 123-kilometre stage which should suit the sprinters on Saturday, and a decisive, 34-kilometre individual time-trial on Sunday.
Nairo Quintana: “I wanted to see what my real form was, and fortunately, I’m feeling great at the moment! The team’s work was really good, with everyone taking efforts from the very beginning of the stage and as far as they could. We put Bennati to push at the front of the bunch on the flat before the climb, trying to keep the breakaway close and taking advantage from Víctor’s position to bridge back and get further.
“De la Parte was fundamental up there on the flat between the climbs, pushing as much as he could for as long as possible. And in the end, it was my task – Mikel was also trying to attack the GC group and destroy the pace by BMC, just like I asked him to do.
“The whole strategy worked well, and it makes us happy, both the team and myself, to get things working and also being able to bring a victory to our DS José Luis Arrieta, who was celebrating his birthday in the team car today. It also goes to all of my team-mates, because they were superb today.
“It’s important for one’s own body and the whole squad to see ourselves doing great before the Tour de France. It was a big test for us today, and there’s another one awaiting on Sunday. We’ll have to ride strong on the flat, defend ourselves well and do our best. These nine days of racing have helped us building up calmly for July, and hopefully they’ll bring us some luck, too!”
