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Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had to fight the effects of a fever during the mountain stage in Andorra on Wednesday. The Colombian admitted he went close to quitting the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Vuelta a Espana during the intensely mountainous stage 11.

Quintana finished 14th on the stage, 4:19 behind stage winner Mikel Landa (Astana) and three minutes behind new race leader Fabio Aruꦑ (Astana). He was also a minꦡute down on his Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde and slipped to ninth, 3:07 behind Aru in the general classification.

Quintana stayed in the main field on Thursday’s downhill stage out of And🐬orra, happy just to still be in the Vuelta.

“The other night I had a tough time, with a fever. Fortunately I got ride of it for 🦩the stage but I paid the price for its effects. I even thought about retiring a couple of times, only using my determination to stay in the race,” he said.

“I didn’t want to abandon my team. I’d hope to be▨ there on the stage and help out but I couldn’t do much. But we’ll fight on. I hope to recover a✨nd help the team.”

Valverde now seems to be Movistar’s overall contender. He is sixt🥂h overall, 1:52 down on Aru.

"We knew it wouওld be a very hard day, and 🦂while it was a bad result, I don’t think we could have done better. We 'rode pretty well and I'm happy,” he said.

“It is true that we💝 have lost some time to Aru, and to Purito Rodriguez but still alive in this Vuelta and there still a long way to race. Now we can’t lose any more time and hope to pull some time back. That’s what we’ll work towards.&rdquo𒆙;