WeLoveCycling.com predicted back in August that Quintana may make the most of his fresh legs – his lacklustre performance in the Tour de France and the Olympics may have been a long-term strategy to take at least one Grand Tour victory this year.
But Froome is closing fast, his monumental effort to win stage 11 put him in 3rd place and within a minute of Quintana, thanks the bonus seconds he was awarded. Froome has a half decent chance to win a 2nd Grand Tour, and Froome likes a chance to play against the odds.
I wouldn’t bet against Quintana, though, look at the gap he opened on stage 10 following 12km straight of climbing. A lot of people wrote Quintana off this year, but if he wins the Vuelta, it’s a clear signal of intent that Movistar have given him the green light to go for Le Tour victory in 2017.
A lot can happen between now and the closing stage in Madrid on September the 11th, but it’s a brave man who predicts the result that’s so finely balanced – but I can’t help but feel the cycling community would love to see Quintana take the Red Jersey.
