COMO – We were at the start of the Giro di Lombardia and at that moment the Movistar (opening photo Gettysport) had only eight riders in its squad for 2024. Eusebio Unzue He didn't shy away from our requests for more information ahead of his team's new season.
Halfway revolution
Many names had been linked to the historic Spanish group. Names that ultimately never materialized. One of them, Carlos Rodriguez. About him, Unzue seemed really sorry for not being able to bring him home.
"There will be a revolution." "No, we'll continue with the historic line of stage race riders," our Spanish colleagues also told us in unsuspecting times. The fact is, everything was still up in the air.
"Not enough riders? I say no," explains Unzue. "We have all the riders we need, but they'll be announced at the right time. We'll wait until the end of the season to announce them." And so it was.
«We have a team that is quite similar, I would say, to last year's. – continues Unzue – We have 6-7 going (actually there were ten, ed.) and 6-7 arriving. A bit like all teams. I say it's good. I have great hopes for young people. Both in our young players, who had a great season with us, and in those who are arriving. The idea is for them to continue to grow."
So, no revolution, at least not a total one. If anything, more of a generational change, even if Movistar remains quite "old."
«Carlos Rodriguez has been sacked – it is clear that "Enrique" (Enric Mas, ed.) will be our captain for the Grand Tours. While Fernando Gaviria will be the leader for the sprints... He's continuing with us. I'm convinced we can enjoy ourselves next year."
Young riders and experienced
«The idea is to strengthen the men's team by focusing on some important names», with these words Unzue had liquidated us last Tour de France.
Growing and creating a team that could also collect a good number of points: this was also a goal. In fact, Movistar won 16 races this season and finished twelfth in the team classification. It's not at risk, but it's not that safe either, given that the gaps at the back are short.
So how can we strengthen our ranks? Ten riders were lost in total, including Gorka Izagirre, who joined his brother Ion at Cofidis. Jorgenson and Verona moved to Jumbo-Visma and Lidl-Trek, respectively, and with Erviti retiring, some solid additions were needed. They needed reliable, successful people. "People who are hungry and still want to," Unzue told us. Riders locked in by many champions within their respective teams. But also young people seeking projects that would give them more personal space.
And so here are Davide Formolo and Remi Cavagna. "I believe a team like Movistar," said the Veronese rider, "is ideal for the type of rider I am. I can play an important role in supporting the leaders in the Grand Tours while also striving for results in one-day races or wherever the team needs them."
But the same goes for the "newbies". Manlio Moro, Ivan Romeo and Pelayo Sanchez, the latter one of the revelations of the last Vuelta.
And some rumours were saying that there was a certain closeness even to a great (former) star, Nairo Quintana"We are not taking Nairo," Unzue emphasizes, "not at this time."
Moro and the team's DNA
In light of the facts, however, the Spanish team hasn't changed its DNA much. It now has a leader for the stage races, Mas, two fast riders, Gaviria and Lazkano, and excellent riders who can both win and help, like Formolo, Cavagna, Aranburu, and Cortina. All of these riders are supported by the series of young riders we mentioned... but these are people who need more work than focus.
Eventually in this Movistar market, which has been dotted above all with renewals (as many as 12), the name of stands out Manlio Moro. He's quite a departure from the profiles historically associated with the Iberian team. A track cyclist, one of the gems of the Italian quartet among Spanish climbers. While Formolo's role can be broadly defined, Moro's remains a bit of an unknown.
"Next year," said the young man from Pordenone, "will be special for me, with the Olympics. That's my real goal. But I also want to grow on the road and in time trials, which are my specialty, and in the future, do well in the classics."
We'll see, maybe "old" Unzue is right...
