Quintana finished the final Pyrenean stage in 13th place, 5:22 minutes behind victorious Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who consolidated the overall lead. In the standings, the thirty-two-year-old Colombian did not keep the fourth position, to which the Frenchman David Gaudu moved, and fell to the fifth place. After the penalty, he is only eight seconds ahead of sixth-placed South African Louis Meintjes, with whom he will fight in the time trial on Saturday.
“I left everything there, I had a little trouble breathing. But I don’t want to make excuses for that. I think we’re going great. The race is very fast,” he said after Thursday’s stage.
Quintana was second overall on the Tour in 2013 and 2015. Now he is aiming for the best result of the French team Arkéa-Samsic in the famous race.
