In orbit since its takeoff on Saturday on the flanks of Ventoux, Nairo Quintana won unsurprisingly Sunday the Tour de La Provence, the recovery race from Thibaut Pinot (7th) who hoped to "do better" and explained that he "will make a new assessment ”after the Tour du Var and the Alpes-Maritimes on February 21, 22 and 23.
Even if Nacer Bouhanni could not sign a third victory this season at home in Aix-en-Provence during the 4th and last stage, won by the Briton Owain Doull (Ineos) - who had slipped into the good breakaway - , Arkéa-Samsic confirmed its conquering debut in 2020 with the final victory of its Colombian star recruit.
Thibaut Pinot finishes seventh
With four successes in 2020, all obtained by its two new headliners, the training based in Bruz (Ille-et-Vilaine) almost equals its balance sheet for the year 2019 from mid-February. The Bouhanni bet and the investment in Quintana are paying off this winter.
But in cycling, bouquets are not counted at Valentine's Day: this is the message transmitted by Thibaut Pinot, 7th in the final classification in Provence for his recovery race since his retirement from the Tour of France.
"My goals are in March with Paris-Nice [March 8-15] and the [Tour de] Catalunya so I shouldn't be too frightened but stay calm," said the unhappy hero of July. "I was hoping to do better, but you have to know how to be patient," said the climber after dropping more than two minutes on Nairo Quintana the day before. "No training replaces racing," he insisted. The best training was to come here. "
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- Thibaut Pinot
- Provence
- Nairo quintana
- Cycling
- Cycling