Quintana takes the high road in training

Nairo Quintana has flown under the radar in the buildup to the Tour de France and although his team manager has cautioned against his inexperience, the Movistar rider could become the first Colombian to win the Grande Boucle.

The 25-year-old spent about six weeks in his home country training at altitude while other big guns were checking out Tour stages and racing in the Tour de Suisse or the Criterium du Dauphine week-long races.

It was a program that suited Quintana well in 2013, when he finished second overall on his Tour debut before going on to win the Giro d'Italia a year later.