Nairo Quintana will embark on a quest for a career-defining Giro-Tour de France double on Friday when he sets off against a tough field on Italy’s roads. The Colombian is looking to become the first man since the late Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both three-week races — a feat even Alberto Contador, the greatest grand tour rider of his generation, has found beyond him. While Contador had won both races when he last attempted the double in 2015, Quintana has yet to prevail on the Tour, where he has been bested by Chris Froome. The 27-year-old Quintana, who rides for Movistar, is full of confidence however as he prepares to battle it out with defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, France’s Thibaut Pinot, Dutchmen Bauke Mollema and Tom Dumoulin and Briton Geraint Thomas. "The idea is to go for the Giro title — for both titles. I don’t know if it’s going to come off or not, but we’ll try," said Quintana, who won the Italian race in 2014. "We’re on the right track," he added, refer...
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