Nairo Quintana: "The next goal is Paris-Nice where we will have to focus"

Arkéa - Samsic's Nairo Quintana is having a strong start to the season and today at the Tour de la Provence they have gathered their second and third win of the season as they took the stage win and due to the Colombian's strong performance, the overall aswell.

After the race, Quintana had this to say: "A feeling of much joy, I'm very happy because we won, the team also got a win and we have been working well together and did a good winter together."

"The [pre-season] work is well done, I'm happy today. The team worked really well all day long, in the climb we waited until the moment we had planned to make an accelaration, and start to try a first attack to see the selection and then try to win the stage," he added. Until the last five kilometers of the race Arkéa remained rather calm in the peloton but when they made their move they blew up the remains of the peloton, with Maxime Bouet launching Nairo Quintana into his first attack. With 3.4 kilometers to go he launched a second move dropping Julian Alaphilippe and heading to the stage win.

"We're gonna keep working, we know there are strong riders, the next goal is Paris-Nice where we will have to focus well. I'm in good condition, I can't say if I'm better or worst, I'm going to keep working to mantain the good condition, it's the first race of the year so I can't be at top form."

Next weekend Quintana will be back at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var where he will on paper be targeting another GC win, however he's got his eyes set on the big goals of the early season which will be Paris-Nice, and posteriorly the Volta a Catalunya.