This has to be one of the best photos of the 2013 Tour: Nairo Quintana at the finish on the Ventoux. Nairo gives very little away when he climbs but as he crossed the line his head dropped and the lights went out. He later admitted having gone too early again. Before that, on the slopes of the Giant of Provence, he knew he was going to win. Then he was caught, then dropped, then he regained Froome’s wheel. Finally he was dropped a second time, towards the summit. There was no fighting back to Froome’s wheel, only the need to race on, as fast as possible.
His soigneur drapes a fresh long sleeve jersey on his shoulders, a bottle of pink spanish recovery fluid awaits. Nairo’s left hand lies open by his leg. His head hangs with exhaustion and disappointment. This soigneur has to do his magic now as Quintana has left it all on the Ventoux.
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edit:
...Adam Hansen with the beer...
@pakrat
Best I can do, chief.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls3NxXSb1K0
@TBONE
Close-lining him would have been much more betterer.
@TBONE
Awesome choice! And I love the Tricky version even more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RVObkXuZ-U
@Pedale.Forchetta
Do it PF! Find the soul of the 2014 race, not the social media-filling false "spectacle".
Quintana is a breath of freash air. Humble, even nervous on his first few trips to the podum, but now looking more comfortable. His little smile seems to say "Hey, I CAN do this!". Great back story (family in poverty, nearly dying as a sickly child, etc).. Maybe too small to ever be a great TT'er, but he coould easily win a hilly GT (or this year's World Champs?).
The photo of Adam Hansen with the beer is a great shot. I believe he is the only rider to finish the Giro, Le Tour and the Vuelta in 2012. A stunning achievement. I do hope he had a sip of that beer!
@Pedale.Forchetta
You're not wrong unfortunately.All we need now is cheerleaders shaking their asses between head of the race, chasse patate riders and the peloton. TDF is becoming a strange race.Somehow it feels kind of right to me.Giro had and still has a place in my heart and somehow I just don't give a fuck about TDF and all that journalism circus.I have watched Vive le Velo and few highlights here and there but that's about it.
The body posture clearly shows he's left everything on the mountain. He doesn't even have the strength to sit upright. The press which is normally in the riders face is actually a respectful distance, aware of what they've seen.... An almost intimate quiet circle in the midst of the chaos of the finish line, as if by kneeling down they are out of sight of the surging crowd. Epic.
@Pedale.Forchetta
I agree completely. They are mugging for the tv camera and I can only relax when the riders are inside the barriers. I was pleased to see a French policeman on Alpe d'Huez grab one of these punks and "reposition" on the side of the road. The Tour of California is afflicted with this too, we may well have started it, not the drunkenness but the stupid costumes and bad behavior.
I don't even understand why people run next to riders and yell at them. I'm in total awe when I see these guys, I would never want to mess with their concentration.