All of their biggest talent is still climbing talent though. Its really just some, dare I say, pretty random signings from abroad which can race some of the smaller races they really do not care that much about and hope to grow them into good domestiques for the bigger races and can make some results here and there in one day classics and smaller stage races up north.My reading is that Movistar are shifting their focus away from GC to more Classics - We have bemoaned their lack of rouleurs so you can kill two birds with one stone with more emphasis on classics - I'll be interested to see what they do in this transfer period.
I am not saying that Classics will be more important than GT's - There are three parts to a team which are climber types, classics riders and sprinters - It's tough for a team to cover all three areas, though teams should be able to cover two areas - In the case of Movistar( take away Valverde ) they've always been strong in GT's but need to get stronger in Classics or sprinting - It gives the team more balance and of course possibly wins.I would be shocked if that was their intention. In the whole history there always have been more emphasis in GT's. Even with Valverde flourishing in the Ardenes.
That would be one solution and actually make some sense. Higuita has said he wants to be a Valverde type rider.They just need to poach Higuita. Obviously early but he seems to be the guy with the most Bala/Jrod potential.
Why, he wasn't exactly blown away in the PN ITT?Higuita could be fine for Classics, though his ITT skills will hinder GT GC ambitions - Think Martinez is a better bet for GC.
I think he'll be fine by the end of the Tour, in full shape for Ardennes and Vuelta. He's getting older obviously and he's not able to reach his top form from day one, like he used to, now it takes time. Just like last year...So far it seems like the season too much for Valverde. Never thought that moment would come. Let's hope for him he can at least shine somewhere this season.
He'll be alright for what he's looking for which is after the Tour. He's building form. He said yesterday he's better than he was at Burgos. Also remember he didn't do much training during the lock down. He said he was doing just enough to hold an off season base, which is a lot less than many other riders were doing. He's using the races to build form. Yes age is catching up to him. However, he's still shown he is capable of being up there on certain types of stages. I wouldn't worry about him.So far it seems like the season too much for Valverde. Never thought that moment would come. Let's hope for him he can at least shine somewhere this season.
Soler's main goals are T-A and the Giro. Last time Movistar said anything about calendars Soler isn't going to the Tour. Which is why I'm not currently worried about him. If he's not better next month, then we have a big issue.Both Mas and Valverde seemed to go to the finish with decent speed.
But what the hell is Soler doing??
I have wanted to do a similar post. So thanks for the list.The number of disappointing/disappointed riders at the Dauphine is large but you got to say for teams as a whole Movistar are up there
Obviously Jumbo V are streaks ahead of everyone with DQ, Astana and Bora to the fore
Trek arent too bad for them
And UAE and Bahrain are putting in a good show
On the otherhand Ineos are struggling for a change
EF (excluding Martinez) look very poor
Sunweb and Ag2R not great
CCC well ?
But Movistar are having a terrible time
Soler couldn't hold on in the break today and look where Mas finished
Valverde is not young but he is struggling in a way we havent seen in an age
what kind of training have they had in te last months ?
There are 3 non world tour teams at the pointy end everyday (Cofidis, Hotelsc& BBs (?) and Quintana's team) but some notable WT teams missing
Believe it or not, Cofidis are a WT team!The number of disappointing/disappointed riders at the Dauphine is large but you got to say for teams as a whole Movistar are up there
Obviously Jumbo V are streaks ahead of everyone with DQ, Astana and Bora to the fore
Trek arent too bad for them
And UAE and Bahrain are putting in a good show
On the otherhand Ineos are struggling for a change
EF (excluding Martinez) look very poor
Sunweb and Ag2R not great
CCC well ?
But Movistar are having a terrible time
Soler couldn't hold on in the break today and look where Mas finished
Valverde is not young but he is struggling in a way we havent seen in an age
what kind of training have they had in te last months ?
There are 3 non world tour teams at the pointy end everyday (Cofidis, Hotelsc& BBs (?) and Quintana's team) but some notable WT teams missing