País Vasco and Romandie called off, Quintana’s flying form: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
As the week gets underway with more races called off, you have to wonder what Nairo Quintana is up to with all that form he has right now.
As a story over at AS.com points out, he has had quite an early-season campaign, racking up five pro victories already. The Colombian climber says he has been working hard, and now we’re seeing the results, while Emmanuel Hubert, team manager at Quintana’s new Arkéa-Samsic squad, says the team is optimistic about riding this wave all the way to the Tour.
Whether that actually happens this year remains to be seen. In any case, chapeau to Quintana for finding success after a change of scenery. Hopefully we will have another chance to see him racing again in the not too distant future.
Until next time, readers.
What’s news
| Vuelta al País Vasco, Tour de Romandie, and Tour of the Alps called off
The Vuelta al País Vasco, Tour of Romandie, and Tour of the Alps have joined the long list of events whose 2020 editions will not be held as planned due to the coronavirus crisis.
País Vasco was set to run from April 6-11 but organizers announced that it has been postponed “until further notice.” The Tour of the Alps, which would have taken place from April 20 to April 24, has also been postponed, with organizers hopeful that rescheduling for a later date will be possible. The Tour of Romandie, initially planned for April 4 to May 3, has been cancelled.
| Quintana’s form
Nairo Quintana’s stage 7 win at Paris-Nice on Saturday was his fifth pro victory with his new Arkéa-Samsic team so far – not a bad way to start the season with a new squad. As AS reports, Quintana says he has been hard at work, and now he has the results to show for it. The fact that he is in a new environment, away from the turmoil that beset the Movistar team in his last few years there, could have something to do with it too.
Arkéa-Samsic manager Emmanuel Hubert has high hopes for what’s to come with his squad’s new addition. “We support him,” Hubert said, according to AS. “We plan to continue doing so when it comes to the Tour.” Whether this year’s Tour goes ahead is a different question, of course, but at least Quintana fans have had reason to cheer so far this season, and potentially something to look forward to in the races to come.
| Pros in Spain seek clarity on lockdown rules
With Spain on lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis, cyclists riding outdoors currently face fines of hundreds or even thousands of euros. Whether that applies to pros training as part of their job, however, is unclear.
As Gorka Izagirre told Diario Vasco, Spain’s Association of Professional Cyclists (ACP) has told riders that pros are allowed to train outside, but numerous riders have already been stopped by police and sent home. The ACP has asked the government to allow pros to train outside, and Izagirre and others are hoping for clarity on the situation. Considering how many international pros are based in Spain, it’s a situation that affects quite a few members of the pro peloton.
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| Moving Pictures
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s featured image of Nairo Quintana winning stage 7 of Paris-Nice comes from Cor Vos.
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