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5 dark horse candidates to upset at the 2018 Tour de France

By Elliot Howey

SAINT-GERVAIS LES BAINS - MONT BLANC, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Arrival / Adam Yates of Great Britain and Team Mitchelton-Scott / Celebration / during the 70th Criterium du Dauphine 2018, Stage 7 a 136km stage from Moutiers to Saint-Gervais-Les Bains-Mont Blanc, Montee du Bettex 1372m on June 10, 2018 in Saint-Gervais-la-Foret, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
SAINT-GERVAIS LES BAINS - MONT BLANC, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Arrival / Adam Yates of Great Britain and Team Mitchelton-Scott / Celebration / during the 70th Criterium du Dauphine 2018, Stage 7 a 136km stage from Moutiers to Saint-Gervais-Les Bains-Mont Blanc, Montee du Bettex 1372m on June 10, 2018 in Saint-Gervais-la-Foret, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images) /
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ATZMANNIG-AROSA, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 15: Arrival / Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Movistar Team / Celebration / during the 82nd Tour of Switzerland 2018, Stage 7 a 170,5km stage from Eschenbach to Atzmannig – Arosa to 1744m on June 15, 2018 in Arosa, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
ATZMANNIG-AROSA, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 15: Arrival / Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Movistar Team / Celebration / during the 82nd Tour of Switzerland 2018, Stage 7 a 170,5km stage from Eschenbach to Atzmannig – Arosa to 1744m on June 15, 2018 in Arosa, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images) /

Nairo Quintana (Movistar)

The 28-year-old hasn’t had the best season, but Nairo Quintana is a top-quality rider and is always a threat in the grand tours. Quintana pushed Froome all the way in 2015, when the Colombian finished second to the Brit.

Since then the Movistar rider has won the Vuelta a Espana, Volta a Catalunya and finished second in the Giro d’Italia.

The Colombian is a natural-born climber. He is one of the best climbers in the world. If the Tour was decided on just climbing, Quintana would be a multiple grand tour champion. However, what lets the Movistar man down is his form on the flat and in time trails.

Also, his descending needs improvement. He has the ability to gain time on his rivals going uphill, but then loses it going down. Hopefully during the offseason Quintana has been improving on his weaknesses.

The Colombian has been quiet in 2018;  second place in the Volta a Catalunya and a third-place finish in the Tour de Suisse are the only notable appearances we have seen from the rider.

Quintana did not take part in the Vuelta a Espana or the Giro d’Italia, which may raise questions about his form heading into the Tour de France. Usually a rider targeting the yellow jersey would use the Giro or the Vuelta as a rehearsal for  the Tour.

However, the Movistar rider may benefit from the extra rest and time to research the Tour de France stages and route, which is crucial on a grand tour race. Another plus for Quintana heading in to the Tour is his team. Movistar, has one of the strongest teams in the Tour.

Its roster includes Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde, both among the top climbers in world cycling, and all both could lead a competitive challenge for the yellow jersey.

If Team Sky or Froome show any weakness, then you can expect Movistar to pounce on them and launch attack after attack. Movistar has the riders and the team leader to win the Tour.

If we see the Quintana we saw in the Tour de France in 2015, it will be very hard to keep up with the Colombian. However, his lack of top quality racing under his belt this year may come back to hurt him later on in the Tour.

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