NO, Carlos Rodríguez will not compete next year Movistar Team. His arrival in the only Spanish squad on the UCI World Tour in 2024 was never officially announced with much fanfare, but the Granada native stuck to an exit clause to finally renew his contract with Ineos Grenadiers. next year’s big tours. AND Movistar received a good share economically in this way For a runner who was never on the payroll, however, he was left without the man who would be his reference for years to come.
And so Movistar continues to maintain the dynamic it has maintained since 2020. Enric Mas came to the Spanish team Leading a generational change that has not found more reliable references since. They left the team that year Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa and Nairo Quintana; a year later he did this Marc Soler; and the year 2022 ended with his honorable retirement. Alejandro Valverde.
Meanwhile, Eusebio Unzué and his team have seduced a handful of good cyclists, but none as great a leader as those who have led the Abarca structure under different names for decades, from Reynolds to Movistar, through Banesto, Caisse d’Epargne and Balearic. Islands.
Mas, Gaviria, Cortina, Cavagna…
After Carlos Rodríguez’s scare, 2024 will continue with the same dynamic for the Navarra-based squad. Mas will be the only solid big leader for the big tours and for the rest of the calendar he will entrust his luck to stage hunters or a great day of fasting. Fernando Gaviria and Iván García Cortina or a perfect time trial Remi CavagnaOne of their new additions.
“The budget is sufficient for now, Eusebio and the company would love to be able to make transfers at a higher level, but Movistar cannot compete head to head with the best teams in the peloton. He doesn’t have the necessary money. “This is how it is,” sums up the team’s atmosphere torn between resignation and anxiety, albeit one with a sense of calm that informs them they finish 2023 this way. 12th team in the peloton in UCI pointsIt is gaining ground on the reduction, which will be decided by the end of 2025, provided that the system operates within three years.
Movistar closed the circuit with 16 victories, but only three of them were on the World Tour. Runners like: Oier Lazkano And especially Einer Rubio They took a step forward and wore stripes, but other references include: Mas, Aranburu and García Cortina They closed the first season after Valverde without a single win.
Movistar’s losses in 2024
The American also shined and in what way, Matteo Jorgensonboth on week-long tours and on classic cobblestones. In fact, it made so much progress that it escaped Movistar’s grasp as it was unable to compete with the almighty Jumbo’s offer. Walking is also sensitive Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Oscar Rodríguez (Ineos unless it’s official) and Max Kanter (Astana) are team men with the ability to look for opportunities on their own.
Movistar is firing most of its old guard along with them (Erviti, Rojas, Lluís Mas and Gorka Izagirre) already Juri Hollmann And Abner GonzálezTwo runners who could not live up to the expectations created for them. He also fired his performance manager. Patxi Villacaught by For its ambitious project with Bora-Hansgrohe Primoz Roglic for reference.
Movistar’s signings for 2024
What about signatures? Two stand out above the rest. French Remi CavagnaFrom Soudal , its performance in time trials guarantees quality support on the flat for climbers and perhaps a solid presence for cobbled classics, but that remains to be seen. Italian Davide FormoloHe comes to the mountains from the UAE as a luxury reinforcement, both to help Mas and to lead the team in some stage events.
Young talents from Spanish cycling complete the list of additions (Jon Barrenetxea, Carlos Canal, Javier Romo and Pelayo Sánchez) and 21-year-old Italian ‘pistard’ Manlio MoroHe will make his professional debut on the road next year. Together with the rest, they all make up a squad of 27 drivers, with the rules allowing up to 30. There may be a few more transfers, but they will not fill the quota.
However, what can be expected from Movistar is similar to what was seen last season. further will be the undisputed leader, like men Guerreiro, Formolo, Rubio, Pedrero and Mühlberger They will provide stability in mountains and similar places Cavagna, Aranburu, Gaviria, Cortina, Serrano and Lazkano They will take advantage of opportunities in other fields. In any case, it’s a much more versatile block than the block from a few seasons ago.
All this while waiting for Unzué to draw o long-awaited second sponsor Something that coexists with Movistar and can strengthen the economic and therefore sporting strength of the Navarrese team. And so maybe we can escape the sense of transition that the team has been experiencing for four years.