perico said:
It's Valverde's team, but Valverde isn't going to be the leader for the GC at the Tour in 2020, and though he probably won't even ride it, were Valverde to end up in yellow early, Mas wouldn't have to look after himself in the mountains or have to share with someone's ambitions to win the polka dot or whatever. On top of that, even if they were to also sign Fuglsang, he'll be 35 years old come next July and has always sacrificed his own ambitions when he wasn't the undisputed GC rider for a team.
But... according to Johan Bruyneel, rumor is that Landa now wants to stay at Movistar.
Very true, that even if Valverde would race the Tour next year, it won't be for GC just like this year and Mas would still be the race leader. The only possible other ambitions he would have to "worry" about would be Valverde maybe wanting a stage win. Which can still easily fit into Mas' wanting GC.
Wonder if Landa now wants to stay at Movistar simply because Quintana is gone? I've not heard of any issues with Landa there other than the issues he and Quintana have with each other. He has said he gets along well with Valverde when he was directly asked.
Depending on personality and the understanding of both Mas and Landa that la Vuelta is Valverde's for as long as he is racing or wants it, they still may be able to work with each other. Landa has said he doesn't have a problem working for someone else as long as he gets along with them and that he's happily worked for Nibali, Valverde and was fine working for Carapaz at the Giro. Also Mas is 5-6 years younger than Landa and thus 15-16 years younger than Valverde.