Colombian claims he lost the race in the first week
Saturday 25 July 2015 22:40, UK
Nairo Quintana insisted he “gave everything” after failing to overhaul Chris Froome’s Tour de France lead on stage 20 and said he lost the race in the first week.
The Movistar rider launched no fewer than five attacks on the Tour's final day in the mountains in a bid to make up his 2min 38sec deficit to the yellow jersey but could only recover 1min 20sec, plus another six seconds in bonuses.
It means Quintana will finish runner-up at the Tour for the second time in his career, 1min 12sec down on winner Froome.
The Colombian said: “We had a strategy. We thought about attacking up to the Col de la Croix de Fer [the stage’s first climb], but it didn't work out.
“Plan B was to do it at L'Alpe d'Huez and we took some time, but not enough. I saw the yellow jersey was far behind, but he fought till the end to keep the lead. He and his team defended very well.
“I have given everything I had in the past two stages, but it didn't work out.”
Quintana’s fate was effectively sealed on stage two of the Tour, when he lost 1min 28sec to Froome after being dropped in crosswinds in the Netherlands.
Had that been avoided, he could well have won the race and he consequently took heart ahead of the 2016 edition.
Quintana added: "I lost the Tour in the first week, when my team struggled with crashes. I lost a minute and a half, and that is what cost me the Tour. I still keep my yellow dream for the coming years.”
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