Teams & Riders Team Movistar-thread

[Koronin]

Article about some of the information on SRAM.

Tour Tech: why are pro riders using SRAM 12-speed set-ups that are unavailable to the public? - Cycling Weekly

Both Movistar and Trek-Segafredo are riding team-issue only SRAM chainrings in this year's Tour de France. We look at the reasons why.

www.cyclingweekly.com

 

[Koronin]

Pictures from today's stage of the boys joking around.

 

[Koronin]

For anyone who can watch it, this interview is funny. (the video is geo locked so likely need a Spanish ISP).

Vuelta 2020 Etapa 8 | Buen rollo entre Valverde y Mas durante la etapa 8

Alejandro Valverde y Enric Mas, los dos corredores del Movistar Team han demostrado el buen rollo que hay en el equipo, pese al frustrante tercer puesto que vivió este martes el murciano. Valverde ha reconocido desconocer la subida al Alto de Moncalvillo, puerto protagonista de la etapa 8...

www.rtve.es

 

[Koronin]

Apparently, according to Pablo Lastras the team is racing for Enric Mas, HOWEVER, they have asked both Soler and Valverde to do whatever they can to stay as high in GC as they possibly can because they think that is one of the best ways to help Mas. So the reality is Soler and Valverde are not racing to win overall, but are racing for top 10 because that's what the team wants. So I guess we're back to the insanity of trying to have any idea of what the heck Movistar tactics actually are.

Pablo Lastras: "Somos el equipo más fuerte"

El director de movistar pasó por los micrófonos de Radio MARCA y respondió a todos los temas que afectan a la escuadra azul en esta Vuelta a...

www.marca.com

 

[SHAD0W93]

Apparently, according to Pablo Lastras the team is racing for Enric Mas, HOWEVER, they have asked both Soler and Valverde to do whatever they can to stay as high in GC as they possibly can because they think that is one of the best ways to help Mas. So the reality is Soler and Valverde are not racing to win overall, but are racing for top 10 because that's what the team wants. So I guess we're back to the insanity of trying to have any idea of what the heck Movistar tactics actually are.

Pablo Lastras: "Somos el equipo más fuerte"

El director de movistar pasó por los micrófonos de Radio MARCA y respondió a todos los temas que afectan a la escuadra azul en esta Vuelta a...

www.marca.com

Might as well have everyone race their own race and see what happens. Maybe one of them would surprise.

 

[Koronin]

Might as well have everyone race their own race and see what happens. Maybe one of them would surprise.

Well that actually was the Giro strategy.

I guess at least we now have a partial explanation as to why their tactics look so strange. They are strange and likely no other team would even think of, let alone actually consider that strategy.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Well that actually was the Giro strategy.

I guess at least we now have a partial explanation as to why their tactics look so strange. They are strange and likely no other team would even think of, let alone actually consider that strategy.

#FreeJJRojas

 

[Koronin]

#FreeJJRojas

I wouldn't be shocked if he retires in another year or two.

Then again Erviti keeps trying to retiring and keeps coming back.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I mean the stage on Saturday, Movistar could really benefit from racing aggressively with Valverde and Soler on the previous climbs as they are hard and difficult to control, stranger things have happened in the past. Ineos isnt that strong in mountanious terrain, so that could be an opportunity to put pressure on and advance in the strandings.

I think theres no point for Movistar to commit 100% to Mas with Soler and Valverde in traditional helper roles, some riders are simply stronger than him.

 

[Koronin]

I mean the stage on Saturday, Movistar could really benefit from racing aggressively with Valverde and Soler on the previous climbs as they are hard and difficult to control, stranger things have happened in the past. Ineos isnt that strong in mountanious terrain, so that could be an opportunity to put pressure on and advance in the strandings.

I think theres no point for Movistar to commit 100% to Mas with Soler and Valverde in traditional helper roles, some riders are simply stronger than him.

Maybe it's the way it's worded because I don't disagree with you. It sounds like Soler and Valverde are supposed to both help Mas, but also race for themselves at the same time. So it becomes confusing. Who knows maybe that's part of the strategy, confuse the other teams?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I mean, it's not that hard to understand:

1. To have both Valverde and Soler in top 10 opens possibilities for long range ambushes in the last half of the race.
2. As long as there are some riders stronger than Mas there are not really any benefits for Mas if Valverde/Soler kills themselves in front of the peloton for him early in last climbs.

 

[Blanco]

Exactly. Movistar won't win race with the sole strength of Enric Mas, there are riders stronger then him. So they must win it with collective strength, and that's where Valverde and Soler are important. They will inevitably try to split the race and have one of them in front. And if that move succeeds one of them will likely be in red, or close...

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Yeah, the current Movistar approach is fine. Actually, their 2019 TdF was fine as well. It's just that neither Quintana nor Landa were strong enough to do anything in the GC. When you don't have the strongest riders, the best thing to do is make the race more chaotic.

 

[Moviestar]

Apparently, according to Pablo Lastras the team is racing for Enric Mas, HOWEVER, they have asked both Soler and Valverde to do whatever they can to stay as high in GC as they possibly can because they think that is one of the best ways to help Mas. So the reality is Soler and Valverde are not racing to win overall, but are racing for top 10 because that's what the team wants. So I guess we're back to the insanity of trying to have any idea of what the heck Movistar tactics actually are.

Pablo Lastras: "Somos el equipo más fuerte"

El director de movistar pasó por los micrófonos de Radio MARCA y respondió a todos los temas que afectan a la escuadra azul en esta Vuelta a...

www.marca.com

To me this is a hidden message: we want to win the GC classification for teams yet again. Till now, the time they ( Soler and Valverde) have taken with their attacks, they have easily lost again on another occasion, so what's the benefit of staying as high in the GC? They want the teamsclassifcation.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

What does that have to do with the teams GC? The most important thing in the teams GC is to make sure you aren't outnumbered in breaks that win by multiple minutes.

 

[Fernandez]

I dont think Mas is what they said was gonna be. Same with Soler.

 

[Koronin]

I dont think Mas is what they said was gonna be. Same with Soler.

I wouldn't make judgements on Mas based on this year and before this he was at a non GC team. Soler looks like he could get a great stage hunter in the way Purito was part of time.

 

[Fernandez]

I wouldn't make judgements on Mas based on this year and before this he was at a non GC team. Soler looks like he could get a great stage hunter in the way Purito was part of time.

I dont think neither of them will be something great. The tragedy of Movistar was loosing Carapaz, who was gonna be the true leader of the team.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I see Soler as more of a diesel climber who would be at his best at the Giro (a bit like Steven Kru).
Them playing the numbers game and keeping all 3 riders up there is fine, bringing the breakaway back on the last mountain stage was also fine. The problem is that after that they made the race hard on the climb early on. When you don't have the strongest climber that's not the best option, it actually hurt both Valverde and Soler and they couldn't use their numbers.

 

[Red Rick]

Have to go with Valverde and Soler in the break today don't they?

 

[Koronin]

I dont think neither of them will be something great. The tragedy of Movistar was loosing Carapaz, who was gonna be the true leader of the team.

Carapaz signed with Ineos BEFORE allowing Movistar any chance to even negotiate with him. He had signed with Ineos before the Giro. Hence the entire blacklisting of his agent.

I see Soler as more of a diesel climber who would be at his best at the Giro (a bit like Steven Kru).
Them playing the numbers game and keeping all 3 riders up there is fine, bringing the breakaway back on the last mountain stage was also fine. The problem is that after that they made the race hard on the climb early on. When you don't have the strongest climber that's not the best option, it actually hurt both Valverde and Soler and they couldn't use their numbers.

The team really should know that. Valverde is a very good climber, but never one of the true top climbers and the climbs he's always had issues with are the ones which age started to show up about 3 years ago.

 

[Blanco]

Have to go with Valverde and Soler in the break today don't they?

Tomorrow

 

[Koronin]

So far for this Vuelta Movistar has collected 1 stage win, 2 combativity awards, and a bunch of white jersey's and team lead trophies.

 

[Moviestar]

As predicted after gaining time, the next day the payment for his efforts.. a total meltdown for Soler today.

24. Verona Carlos 06.44
27 Eg Niklas 07.34
42 Soler Marc 14.33

 

[skippo12]

Mas still 5th. Valverde still 8th but lost a lot of time. Soler eliminated. Not really sure what they are trying to do.