Colombian climber attacks on final climb and descends alone to take the stage and lead
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) took his first ever professional victory in the tough first stage of the Vuelta a Murcia, between Balneario de Archena and Sierra de Espuña, after escaping alone over the top of the final climb to the 1st category Alto del Collado Bermejo. The Colombian climber, who became the first rider from his country to win the Tour de l’Avenir in 2010, soloed down the 7km descent to the finish, managing to hold off the attentions of breakaway companions Wout Poels and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM), early season sensation Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing), Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and his own Movistar teammate Sergio Pardilla.
Poels escaped the others to take second place, 14 seconds behind Quintana, with Tiernan-Locke outsprinting Pardilla to take third.
“I came really focused to this Vuelta a Murcia. I knew that, despite the last descent, this was a stage suiting me really well, and that's why I rode really concentrated to my objective,” explained Quintana afterwards. “The team left me in perfect position before the climb, Tiernan-Locke attacked really hard at the foot and I went for him. He pushed hard all climb and tried to drop me like he did in Haut Var, but I stood his pace and made my attack with 1.5k from the summit.
“I didn't know how skilled for the descents he was and took all risks because I knew I had to get alone before the end of the climb,” he continued. “I made a confident descent, riding well into the turns and I could keep my gap to win. I trained well in the start of the season and results are coming.
“This victory is for all Colombians, for Eusebio Unzué and Movistar Team for their confidence on me,” he added.
With the Vuelta a Murcia cut to just two days this year, Quintana carries his lead into the second and final stage, with a 12.3km time trial between him and what was once a prestigious stage race victory.
“Tomorrow will be a difficult stage to keep the leader jersey,” acknowledged the Colombian, “but despite my small height and my lack of training, I think I don't do bad at time trial, and will demand everything from myself to accomplish the goal of winning the Vuelta."