Yeah, always good when a team gets rid of their winningest rider.
Yeah...as a Masters racer I travelled hundreds of miles to a Stage Race to support my team and get some results. Not to mention the investment in training time, hotel and travel expenses I had high hopes for our team. We were well placed in the GC after the TT stage (we had a World Champion and multiple National TT champ on the squad) and the next 3 stages played out in our favor and we had the lead rider by 5 seconds. He had nothing to do on the last 105 mile stage but to cover one other rider and finish second to him on the last stage, should he not finish first; then he'd have the GC. Prize money was good as it was a well promoted and attended event.
Our rider covered most of the moves but the team was relentless in keeping the competition close and, as planned the outcome was going to be determined on the last 3km climb to the finish. Our teammate was confident that he'd win so I and the other well placed GC rider buried ourselves in the crosswinds to the base of the climb to maintain order and then watched the two main antagonists go up the road. It took a minute to recover and then I worked the climb and passed most of the field to finish in the top 15.
Our Main Hope was nowhere to be found at the finish. Not there to thank the team for the work, NOTHING.
Apparently his opponent sat on and outkicked him for the stage win and miffed at this; he rode around the finish line for a DQ. He loaded his bike quickly into his waiting truck and drove home. No words, no apologies...again nothing. Also-no money that would have paid for the entire teams' hotel rooms and part of the entry fees. We were all amazed and p*ssed at the childishness and selfishness.
Now you're a major pro in a 3 week stage race and you do the same thing to your hard working pro team. The money alone would be a sting as usually everyone shares the prize splits, right down to soigneurs and mechanics. As a manager how could/would you deal with it? MAL should at least write the check to his fellow Movistars.