Mont Ventoux (France) (AFP)

Express integration: Nairo Quintana crushed the competition on the flanks of Mont Ventoux and signed his first victory on Saturday under the colors of his new team Arkéa-Samsic during the 3rd stage of the Tour de La Provence, and put Thibaut Pinot (9th) more than two minutes.

New leader in the general classification, ahead of the surprising Russian champion Aleksandr Vlasov, relegated to a minute, the Colombian is in a position of strength to offer himself the final victory in Aix on Sunday at the end of a much less uneven last stage.

It would already be the fourth bouquet for Arkéa-Samsic in 2020, a total close to its record last year ... over the entire season (5).

Of course, the truth of winter does not always resist the first showers announcing the major events of the cycling season. But this success brings "happiness and confidence", Nairo Quintana appreciated on Saturday after several seasons of tense cohabitation with the other leaders of Movistar.

"What is very important for Nairo is that he finds a smile again," confirmed the manager of his new Breton team, Emmanuel Hubert.

Without reaction to the flight of Nairo Quintana more than 7 kilometers from the finish at Chalet Reynard, Thibaut Pinot noted that he had "still some work to do".

"We fell on really stronger today, an Imperial Quintana. We are in our place, there is no excuse," assumed the unfortunate hero of the last Tour de France, without dwelling on the "stomach ache" he had felt the day before.

Nothing to worry about the Franc-Comtois at this stage of the season: its first goal, Paris-Nice is in three weeks.

And Nairo Quintana had a slightly earlier recovery since he participated in the Colombian championships on January 30.

"Each runner is different," already demined the French climber of the Groupama-FDJ before the start. "I was already good in February and not good in July."

Perhaps also that his very premature end of the season, with the tearing of his retirement from the Tour de France, handicapped him during this recovery.

"My break was longer than in other years and it took me a little longer to find good sensations," admitted the triple stage winner on the Tour.

Next test in a week, on the Tour of the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, which will also offer relief.

© 2020 AFP