Quintana in good shape for Tour de France revenge

The law of diminishing returns often applies to blockbusters but Froome v Quintana III could be the best yet, and it just might have a different outcome. This could be the year of Quintana: The Resurgence.

Both Chris Froome’s Tour wins, in 2013 and 2015, have been with Nairo Quintana as runner-up – the only times the Colombian has contested the race – and everything is in place for a third battle for supremacy.

It is hard to look beyond the big two, who have proved themselves ideally suited to the demands of three-week stage races. Since emerging as major contenders, Froome has two wins, three seconds and a fourth in Grand Tours (as well as two non-finishes) and Quintana has a win, two seconds and a fourth (plus one withdrawal after crashing twice).