Teams & Riders Team Movistar-thread

[Koronin]

I think this can help Soler. Give him a chance to show he can lead a team at the least important (to Movistar) GT so there won't be much pressure on him. The pressure will be on Mas and Valverde going to the two GTs that are important to the team.

 

[ice&fire]

I'd like to be wrong, but Soler leading Movistar at the Giro recalls me of Izagirre 2015. Fortunately for him, with no one in the team likely to pull an Amador, he won't be asked to wait for a teammate if he has a good day in the mountains.

 

[Koronin]

I'd like to be wrong, but Soler leading Movistar at the Giro recalls me of Izagirre 2015. Fortunately for him, with no one in the team likely to pull an Amador, he won't be asked to wait for a teammate if he has a good day in the mountains.

True, although also remember that Soler can do good time trials. So having more TTs in the Giro works to his advantage in at least trying to stay in the GC hunt.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

True, although also remember that Soler can do good time trials. So having more TTs in the Giro works to his advantage in at least trying to stay in the GC hunt.

That'll be an advantage compared to some of the opponents like Ciccone, but there are plenty of opponents that can also do a decent timetrial. Last year, in the long ITT, Nibali was 4th, Carthy was 8th, Carapaz was 11th. In the short ITT, Nibali was 3rd, Carapaz was 14th, Carthy 16th. In the medium ITT, Nibali was 9th, ahead of Roglic. I don't need to tell you, what (if he's up there for GC) Evenepoel will do in the ITT's. Kelderman should also finish well in the top 20 of the ITT's, if not the top 10. So there being 3 ITT's might not be a real big advantage for Soler.

 

[Koronin]

That'll be an advantage compared to some of the opponents like Ciccone, but there are plenty of opponents that can also do a decent timetrial. Last year, in the long ITT, Nibali was 4th, Carthy was 8th, Carapaz was 11th. In the short ITT, Nibali was 3rd, Carapaz was 14th, Carthy 16th. In the medium ITT, Nibali was 9th, ahead of Roglic. I don't need to tell you, what (if he's up there for GC) Evenepoel will do in the ITT's. Kelderman should also finish well in the top 20 of the ITT's, if not the top 10. So there being 3 ITT's might not be a real big advantage for Soler.

It'll be interesting to see what Evenpoel does. Nibali is my favorite to win. I'm not convinced Carapaz wins last year if Nibali and Roglic would have seen him as a threat until it was too late. One big thing Soler needs to figure out is how to not have that one really, really bad day. As I said I think it can help him stay in the GC because he shouldn't shed time there. The question is is he actually capable of racing for GC in a Grand Tour. We know Enric Mas is because he has a Vuelta podium.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I'd be surprised if Nibali can beat Carapaz. I don't expect much from Carthy, though top 10 is possible by default. Soler is among a bunch of riders who could finish high because so few top GC riders will be there.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I'd be surprised if Nibali can beat Carapaz. I don't expect much from Carthy, though top 10 is possible by default. Soler is among a bunch of riders who could finish high because so few top GC riders will be there.

Carthy just missed the top 10 last year, and by all means, there were more heavy hitters present (Roglic, Mollema, Zakarin, Lopez, Yates) than this year. I expect Carthy to have improved, and with a lot of big names not coming to the Giro, i think Carthy will be in contention for a top 5. I think he and Soler could be close to each other in GC.

 

[Koronin]

I think this picture of this year's 3 leaders show how different the atmosphere in the team is. It shows they enjoy being together and having fun.

 

[tobydawq]

I think this picture of this year's 3 leaders show how different the atmosphere in the team is. It shows they enjoy being together and having fun.

Nice you can deduce that from a photo.

 

[Koronin]

Nice you can deduce that from a photo.

Remember all the forced photos from the last two years with Landa and Quintana? A picture like this is much harder to do if it's forced.

 

[tobydawq]

What about the video on the bus?

 

[Koronin]

What about the video on the bus?

That video last year you could tell was forced. When I first saw it I was laughing because I couldn't believe they thought it was a good idea.

 

[BlueRoads]

I guess there is not really a reason for them to be discontent. Mas seems to be a very nice guy and is soo eager to state how much he's learning from others... To be at a GT team of his own nationality in which he is considered important is probably an improvement from before for him. And he must think what I think, that even Valverde HAS to decline eventually. Soler will be happy to be the sole leader at a GT this year. After that we will see. Valverde will be happy because he can do whatever he wants to anyway.

 

[Alanfresco]

So it's all Nairos fault?

 

[BlueRoads]

I still think the people at the top are at fault.

 

[tobydawq]

So it's all Nairos fault?

Yes.

 

[Blanco]

So it's all Nairos fault?

Most likely.
He firstly made bad blood with his father's comments, and then he couldn't handle presence of Landa.
Unzue also made some questioning decisions, but I still think Quintana was the "weakest link".

 

[Koronin]

So it's all Nairos fault?

All, no, but a great deal. He started causing major friction before the 2017 season with going to the media saying he was going to do the Giro/Tour double, then his father's comments after. Then he couldn't handle Landa being there and didn't really even try. Now is it all his fault, no. Unzue and some of the DS's have also made some questionable decisions, but Quintana was the biggest problem. It's also become more evident that he never fit in in that team.

 

[Escarabajo]

Lol. Nairo is gone. So you can all relax and Movistar can go back to the harmony they had before Nairo was in the team.

 

[Koronin]

It appears that Carlos Betancur has confirmed he will be racing the Italian calendar with the only race outside of Italy being Fleche Wallone. Basically will be Marc Soler's top helper for the Italian block.

 

[ice&fire]

I've read that Burgos will be the only race where Movistar will send Valverde, Mas and Soler together. That will be entertaining to watch.

 

[Koronin]

I've read that Burgos will be the only race where Movistar will send Valverde, Mas and Soler together. That will be entertaining to watch.

All three raced together at the start of the season in Mallorca. It could be entertaining because they actually can work very well together.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Rubio will not ride the Giro, but will go to the Vuelta instead, it appears.

 

[Koronin]

We'll know better when Movistar starts putting out their grouping of riders. They said they'll have one group doing the Italian races, another group doing the classics (they said mostly young riders there), and then a group of 12 riders for the Tour/Vuelta. Obviously it's already announced Valverde and Mas are part of that 12 and we can go ahead and put Erviti on that list as well.