Schlagwort-Archive: Movistar

Critérium du Dauphiné – Etappe 6

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Photo by Plomi

Loriol-sur-Drôme – Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse (167 km)

1 ALEJANDRO VALVERDE (MOVISTAR TEAM) 3:52:53
2 TAO GEOGHEGAN HART (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:00
3 PATRICK KONRAD (BORA – HANSGROHE) 0:00:00
4 WILCO KELDERMAN (BORA – HANSGROHE) 0:00:00
5 ENRIC MAS (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:00:00
6 SEPP KUSS (JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:00
7 ALEXEY LUTSENKO (ASTANA – PREMIER TECH) 0:00:00
8 JACK HAIG (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) 0:00:00
9 BEN HERMANS (ISRAEL START-UP NATION) 0:00:00
10 STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK (JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:00
11 GERAINT THOMAS (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:00
12 NAIRO QUINTANA (TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC) 0:00:00
13 RICHIE PORTE (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:00
14 DAVID GAUDU (GROUPAMA – FDJ) 0:00:00
15 ION IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI (ASTANA – PREMIER TECH) 0:00:00

Gesamtwertung
1 ALEXEY LUTSENKO (ASTANA – PREMIER TECH) 20:52:16
2 ION IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI (ASTANA – PREMIER TECH) 0:00:08
3 WILCO KELDERMAN (BORA – HANSGROHE) 0:00:12
4 GERAINT THOMAS (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:13
5 ILAN VAN WILDER (TEAM DSM) 0:00:13
6 RICHIE PORTE (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:15
7 PATRICK KONRAD (BORA – HANSGROHE) 0:00:27
8 JACK HAIG (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) 0:00:34
9 STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK (JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:39
10 MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:00:42

Ein Traum in Gelb geht zu Ende, Konrad auf Rang drei auf der ersten Bergetappe des Critérium du Dauphiné

Mit einem unglaublichen Tempo von mehr als 50 km in der ersten Rennstunde wurde die heutige sechste Etappe des Critérium du Dauphiné eröffnet. Entsprechend lange dauerte es auch, bis sich letztlich 14 Mann vom Feld absetzen konnten. Doch Astana begann augenblicklich im Feld zu arbeiten, bevor BORA – hansgrohe einmal mehr die Kontrolle übernahm, um den Abstand unter drei Minuten zu halten. Auch heute arbeitete das Team aus Raubling perfekt und am Fuße des ersten Anstiegs war der Vorsprung der Gruppe auf unter eine Minute gesunken. In der Folge drückte Movistar auf das Tempo und Lukas Pöstlberger fiel leider aus der Gruppe der Favoriten zurück. Doch mit Konrad und Kelderman hatte man immer noch zwei Fahrer vorne, die um den Sieg kämpfen konnten. Nachdem alle Ausreißer gestellt waren, eröffnete Ineos früh den Sprint, A. Valverde konnte aber auf den letzten Metern noch den Sieg holen. Dahinter landeten Konrad und Kelderman auf den Rängen drei und vier.

Reaktionen im Ziel
„Das war heute ein erster echter Test. Unser Team hat wieder extrem gut gearbeitet und die Gruppe im Flachstück immer unter Kontrolle behalten, damit ich noch um den Sieg fahren kann. In den Anstiegen haben Astana und Movistar das Tempo erhöht und Pösti ist dem leider zum Opfer gefallen. Am Ende waren dann Wilco und ich noch vorne dabei. Ich hatte im Finale einen super Speed und bei 150m dachte ich, das klappt noch. Aber es hat leider nicht ganz gereicht. Rang drei ist dennoch sehr gut und gibt Selbervertrauen für das Wochenende.“ – Patrick Konrad

„Es war extrem schnell und am Ende wieder ein guter Tag für uns. Meine Beine werden immer besser und ich bin optimistisch für morgen. Natürlich ist es schade, dass wir Gelb verloren haben, aber es war schon eine tolle Dauphiné für uns mit dem Sieg von Pösti und vier Tagen in Gelb. Darum haben wir auch keinen Druck mehr. Ineos und Movistar sind sehr stark hier und werden wohl das Rennen machen, wir müssen da nur dranbleiben.“ – Wilco Kelderman

„Wir wollten im Flachen die Lücke zur Gruppe kontrollieren, damit Patrick am Ende die Chance hat, um den Sieg zu fahren. Das hat alles sehr gut geklappt und dass am Ende eine sehr kleine Gruppe ankommt, war gut für uns. Mit Rang drei und vier sind wir sehr zufrieden. Natürlich ist es schade, dass Lukas da nicht ganz mithalten konnte, aber das war zu erwarten und ist völlig ok. Wir haben uns bis hierhin sehr stark präsentiert und ich denke, da geht auch die nächsten Tage was.“ – Enrico Poitschke, sportlicher Leiter

Valverde, 13 years later

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) mastered the uphill finish in Le Sapey-en-Chartreuse to claim his third stage win on the roads of the Dauphiné, thirteen years after the last one! Again, the pace was relentless for the whole stage, with tailwinds pushing the peloton towards the hilly challenges of the demanding final 50km. Ineos Grenadiers tried to outsmart their rivals like they did in Saint-Vallier, this time with Tao Geoghegan Hart at the front, but Valverde perfectly paced himself in the final 400m to overtake the winner of the 2020 Giro d’Italia on the line. Already dropped on the climb of the Col de Porte, Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) loses the yellow and blue jersey to Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech) ahead of a gruelling week-end in the Alps.
A flying start through the wind

A 137-man peloton starts from Loriol-sur-Drôme, quickly heads north and thus enjoys tailwinds in the first part of the stage. In these conditions, many riders want to break away from the bunch but it’s hard for the attackers to open and hold a gap. After many unsuccessful attempts, nine riders manage to open a gap at km 43.
They soon receive the support of five more attackers to establish the break of the day: Lawson Craddock (EF Nippo), Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R), Omer Goldstein (Israel Start-Up Nation), Laurent Pichon (Arkéa Samsic), Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal), Sven-Erik Bystrom (UAE Team Emirates), Josef Cerny (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo), Barnabas Peak (BikeExchange), Martin Salmon (DSM), Franck Bonnamour (B&B-KTM) and Jan Bakelants (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert).

Holmes and Craddock dominate the first climbs
They cover 50.3km in the first hour… and again in the second hour. But Lukas Pöstlberger’s Bora-Hansgrohe don’t give them much breathing room. The gap never gets higher than 3’05’’ at km 97. And it quickly gets down as the riders hit the first climbs of the day, after 115km covered at a very high pace.
With the polka-dot jersey already on his shoulders, Matthew Holmes takes 5 KOM points atop the Col de la Placette. Julien Bernard opens the battle on the slopes up the Col de Porte but nobody can keep up with Lawson Craddock when he sets off in the final 2km of ascent.
Ineos vs Movistar
In the bunch, Tony Martin ups the pace on the way to the Col de Porte. Astana-Premier Tech takes over and the yellow and blue jersey Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) is dropped with 22km to go. Movistar up the ante on the final slopes and keep pushing on the descent towards the final 10 kilometres of the stage, bringing the gap down to 30’’.
Craddock is eventually dropped when Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) attacks at the bottom of the final climb (3.3km at 6.2%). Ineos Grenadiers set the pace and the South-African climber can’t move very far. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) also try to go, but Ineos still control.

Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar) drives the bunch inside the last kilometre but Ineos move past him again, and Geraint Thomas opens a split in favour of Geoghegan Hart… But that move didn’t fool Alejandro Valverde, who paces himself perfectly to overtake the winner of the 2020 Giro d’Italia right on the line.
@ASO

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol – Etappe 5

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Vera – Pulpí (107 km)

Zielsturz im Sprint einer kleinen Spitzengruppe
Daryl Impey hielt die Linie nicht ein und brachte so sich und den von hinten heranstürmenden Robert Stanard zu Fall, ohne Sturz wären dies die Plätze 1 und 2 gewesen. Beide wurden mit der Zeit der Spitzengruppe gewertet.

1 HAYTER Ethan (GBR) INEOS GRENADIERS 2:27:12
2 WALSLEBEN Philipp (GER) ALPECIN-FENIX 0:00:00
3 SKUJINS Toms (LAT) TREK – SEGAFREDO 0:00:00
4 LOPEZ MORENO Miguel Angel (COL) MOVISTAR TEAM 0:00:00
5 BYSTRØM Sven Erik (NOR) UAE TEAM EMIRATES 0:00:00
6 SERRANO RODRIGUEZ Gonzalo (ESP) MOVISTAR TEAM 0:00:00
7 RODRIGUEZ GARAICOECHEA Oscar (ESP) ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 0:00:00
8 TOLHOEK Antwan (NED) JUMBO-VISMA 0:00:00
9 GRMAY Tsgabu Gebremaryam (ETH) TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 0:00:00
10 RODRIGUEZ CANO Carlos (ESP) INEOS GRENADIERS 0:00:03
11 EENKHOORN Pascal (NED) JUMBO-VISMA 0:00:10
12 ARCHBOLD Shane (NZL) DECEUNINCK – QUICK-STEP 0:00:10
13 GIBBONS Ryan (RSA) UAE TEAM EMIRATES 0:00:10
14 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan (BEL) JUMBO-VISMA 0:00:10
15 CARRETERO Hector (ESP) MOVISTAR TEAM 0:00:15

Endstand

1 LOPEZ MORENO Miguel Angel (COL) MOVISTAR TEAM 21:06:55
2 TOLHOEK Antwan (NED) JUMBO-VISMA 0:00:20
3 AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen (ESP) CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 0:01:10
4 RODRIGUEZ CANO Carlos (ESP) INEOS GRENADIERS 0:01:43
5 SKUJINS Toms (LAT) TREK – SEGAFREDO 0:01:47
6 LASTRA MARTINEZ Jonathan (ESP) CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 0:02:06
7 HAYTER Ethan (GBR) INEOS GRENADIERS 0:02:13
8 PICCOLI James (CAN) ISRAEL START-UP NATION 0:02:24
9 BIZKARRA ETXEGIBEL Mikel (ESP) EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 0:02:44
10 RODRIGUEZ GARAICOECHEA Oscar (ESP) ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 0:02:48
11 STANNARD Robert (AUS) TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 0:02:49
12 GIBBONS Ryan (RSA) UAE TEAM EMIRATES 0:03:13
13 HERREGODTS Rune (BEL) SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE 0:03:34
14 WILSLY Jonas (DEN) ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 0:03:36
15 SERRANO RODRIGUEZ Gonzalo (ESP) MOVISTAR TEAM 0:03:50

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol – Etappe 3

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3. Etappe: Beas de Segura (Jaén) – Villarodrigo (Jaén) – 175 Km
20. Mai 2021

1 LOPEZ MORENO Miguel Angel COL MOVISTAR TEAM 05:03:26 34,98
2 TOLHOEK Antwan NED JUMBO-VISMA 00:02
3 PICCOLI James CAN ISRAEL START-UP NATION 00:06
4 AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen ESP CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 00:17
5 BIZKARRA ETXEGIBEL Mikel ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:28
6 CARRETERO Hector ESP MOVISTAR TEAM 01:25
7 RODRIGUEZ CANO Carlos ESP INEOS GRENADIERS 01:29
8 SKUJINS Toms LAT TREK – SEGAFREDO 01:29
9 LASTRA MARTINEZ Jonathan ESP CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 01:41
10 RODRIGUEZ GARAICOECHEA Oscar ESP ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 02:07

Gesamtwertung:
1 LOPEZ MORENO Miguel Angel COL MOVISTAR TEAM 14:02:31
2 TOLHOEK Antwan NED JUMBO-VISMA 00:20
3 AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen ESP CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 00:55
4 RODRIGUEZ CANO Carlos ESP INEOS GRENADIERS 01:40
5 SKUJINS Toms LAT TREK – SEGAFREDO 01:47
6 PICCOLI James CAN ISRAEL START-UP NATION 01:50
7 LASTRA MARTINEZ Jonathan ESP CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA 01:51
8 BIZKARRA ETXEGIBEL Mikel ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 01:52
9 HAYTER Ethan GBR INEOS GRENADIERS 02:13
10 RODRIGUEZ GARAICOECHEA Oscar ESP ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 02:40

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol – Etappe 1

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La Cala de Mijas – Zahara de la Sierra (152 km)

1 SERRANO RODRIGUEZ, Gonzalo (ESP) MOV 3:54:25
2 AULAR SANABRIA, Orluis Alberto (VEN) CJR 0:00:00
3 IMPEY, Daryl (RSA) ISN 0:00:00
4 HAYTER, Ethan (GBR) IGD 0:00:00
5 STANNARD, Robert (AUS) BEX 0:00:03
6 CANOLA, Marco (ITA) GAZ 0:00:03
7 CEPEDA, Jefferson (ECU) CJR 0:00:03
8 SKUJINS, Toms (LAT) TFS 0:00:03
9 LOPEZ MORENO, Miguel Angel (COL) MOV 0:00:03
10 TOLHOEK, Antwan (NED) TJV 0:00:03
11 BYSTRØM, Sven Erik (NOR) UAD 0:00:03
12 LASTRA MARTINEZ, Jonathan (ESP) CJR 0:00:03
13 PARRA CUERDA, Jose Felix (ESP) EKP 0:00:03
14 MATE MARDONES, Luis Angel (ESP) EUS 0:00:03
15 GIBBONS, Ryan (RSA) UAD 0:00:07

Gesamtwertung
1 SERRANO RODRIGUEZ, Gonzalo (ESP) MOV 3:54:25
2 AULAR SANABRIA, Orluis Alberto (VEN) CJR 0:00:00
3 IMPEY, Daryl (RSA) ISN 0:00:00
4 HAYTER, Ethan (GBR) IGD 0:00:00
5 STANNARD, Robert (AUS) BEX 0:00:03
6 CANOLA, Marco (ITA) GAZ 0:00:03
7 CEPEDA, Jefferson (ECU) CJR 0:00:03
8 SKUJINS, Toms (LAT) TFS 0:00:03
9 LOPEZ MORENO, Miguel Angel (COL) MOV 0:00:03
10 TOLHOEK, Antwan (NED) TJV 0:00:03

La Vuelta – Etappe 2

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Lekunberri, Wednesday, October 21th 2020 – Stage 2 of La Vuelta 2020 saw Marc Soler claim his first Grand Tour stage victory on Movistar Team’s turf, after 151.6km of hard racing. The Spanish outfit turned the race upside down in the last 65km and the Spaniard made the most of the final climb of the day, the Alto de San Miguel de Aralar. Soler set a hard pace in the climb and went on the downhill, while his partners Alejandro Valverde and Enric Mas controlled their rivals. Primoz Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) finished 2nd. He retains La Roja as the overall leader ahead of another explosive stage towards Vinuesa.


Foto: Gerhard Plomitzer

Pamplona – Lekunberri (151,6 km)
1 MARC SOLER (MOVISTAR TEAM) 3:47:04
2 PRIMOŽ ROGLIC (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:19
3 DANIEL MARTIN (ISRAEL START-UP NATION) 0:00:19
4 RICHARD CARAPAZ (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:19
5 ALEJANDRO VALVERDE (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:00:19
6 ENRIC MAS (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:00:19
7 JHOAN ESTEBAN CHAVES (MITCHELTON – SCOTT) 0:00:19
8 HUGH JOHN CARTHY (EF PRO CYCLING) 0:00:19
9 SEPP KUSS (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:19
10 GEORGE BENNETT (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:19
11 ANDREA BAGIOLI (DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP) 0:00:58
12 GINO MÄDER (NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM) 0:01:01
13 RUI COSTA (UAE TEAM EMIRATES) 0:01:01
14 DAVID DE LA CRUZ (UAE TEAM EMIRATES) 0:01:01
15 MATTIA CATTANEO (DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP) 0:01:01

Gesamtwertung
1 PRIMOŽ ROGLIC (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 8:09:41
2 DANIEL MARTIN (ISRAEL START-UP NATION) 0:00:09
3 RICHARD CARAPAZ (INEOS GRENADIERS) 0:00:11
4 JHOAN ESTEBAN CHAVES (MITCHELTON – SCOTT) 0:00:17
5 ENRIC MAS (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:00:17
6 HUGH JOHN CARTHY (EF PRO CYCLING) 0:00:20
7 SEPP KUSS (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:26
8 GEORGE BENNETT (TEAM JUMBO – VISMA) 0:00:56
9 FELIX GROSSSCHARTNER (BORA – HANSGROHE) 0:00:59
10 MARC SOLER (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:01:04
11 ALEJANDRO VALVERDE (MOVISTAR TEAM) 0:01:07
12 ANDREA BAGIOLI (DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP) 0:01:46
13 DAVID DE LA CRUZ (UAE TEAM EMIRATES) 0:01:49
14 GORKA IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI (ASTANA PRO TEAM) 0:01:49
15 MIKEL NIEVE (MITCHELTON – SCOTT) 0:01:49

Top-20 Platzierung für Felix Großschartner nach zermürbender Fahrt auf der 2. Etappe der Vuelta a España

Heute ging es von Pamplona über 151 km hügeliges Terrain und einem steilen Schlussanstieg nach Lekunberri. Nach einigen erfolglosen Fluchtversuchen, konnte sich nach 50 km eine fünfköpfige Gruppe absetzten. Im Anstieg der zweiten Steigung entledigte sich T. Wellens seiner Fluchtkollegen, wurde jedoch nach 20 km wieder gestellt. Dahinter im Feld präsentierte sich BORA – hansgrohe sehr aufmerksam als Movistar das Tempo verschärfte und sich in Folge Lücken im Peloton bildeten. Felix Großschartner gelang es zunächst in die erste größere Gruppe zu kommen, geriet aber im steilen Schlussanstieg in Schwierigkeiten und verlor den Anschluss an die Spitze. Die letzten 20 km waren von Attacken bestimmt und am Ende hängte M. Soler mit einem entscheidenden Solo-Angriff seine Kontrahenten ab, um den Sieg einzufahren. Felix belegte den 18. Platz, und rutschte damit auf den 9. Rang in der Gesamtwertung ab.

Reaktionen im Ziel
„Es war ein harter und anstrengender Tag mit Seitenwind. Zu Beginn fühlte ich mich schon nicht besonders gut, aber das Team brachte mich im letzten Anstieg in eine gute Position, und ich konnte dort auch mit den Favoriten mithalten. Aber als Soler dann loszog, musste ich zurückfallen und schaffte es in die zweiten Gruppe. Ich hatte am Ende etwas Krämpfe, aber ich bin nicht hier, um den Sieg in der Gesamtwertung zu holen, also ist es nicht so schlimm, wenn ich ein bisschen Zeit verliere. Ich hoffe, dass ich mich jetzt für morgen etwas erholen kann. Danke an das Team für die gute Arbeit heute.“ – Felix Großschartner
„Es war ein zufriedenstellendes Rennen, obwohl es sehr nervös war und auch durch den Wind erschwert wurde. Wir wollten versuchen, dass wir da mit Felix nicht zu viel Zeit verlieren. Wir wussten, dass es am letzten steilen Berg nicht einfach wird. Er ist da auch ganz gut gefahren und kam in der zweiten Gruppe ins Ziel. Die Jungs haben Felix unterwegs gut unterstützt und sind alle sicher ins Ziel gekommen. Deswegen können wir auch mit dem Verlauf des Tages zufrieden sein.“ – Steffen Radochla, Sportlicher Leiter

LA VUELTA 20: INFO WITH ONE DAY TO GO

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Key points :

• On the eve of La Vuelta’s 75th edition, defending champion Primoz Roglic spearheads the bunch of 176 riders expected to start from Irun. The Slovenian rider, who has stood on the podium of the last three grand tours he has participated in, shares the leadership of Team Jumbo-Visma with Tom Dumoulin. Amongst the rivals, we reckon names like Richard Carapaz, Chris Froome, Enric Mas, Esteban Chaves or Aleksandr Vlasov.
• Another marquee name in the startlist is Thibaut Pinot, who aims at more modest goals as he wants to enjoy the race and fight for stage wins. Groupama-FDJ’s card for the GC is young Frenchman David Gaudu.
• As for tomorrow’s stage, it will be La Vuelta’s first ever summit finish on an initial race day. Climbers will enjoy the 173 kilometres between Irún and Arrate. Watch out for Alejandro Valverde, the active rider with most stages won on the Spanish grand tour, who already triumphed in this sanctuary back in 2012.


Foto: Gerhard Plomitzer

LA ROJA TO BE AWARDED IN ARRATE
Since the red jersey was first established as the one to distinguish the leader of the overall classification at La Vuelta, 37 different riders have worn La Roja. This year, the first one to earn the right to use it will probably be the climber who triumphs in the Santuario de Arrate, a four-century old sanctuary nearby Eibar that is reached after a 5,3-kilometre climb, and where the finish of the initial stage of La Vuelta 20 will be placed. It’s the first summit finish ever on the first racing day of any edition of La Vuelta. The last time La Vuelta visited Arrate was in 2012: it was the third stage, and Alejandro Valverde beat Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez right over the finish line. A native from Irun, former cyclist and current DS for EF Education First Juanma Gárate, is an authorised voice to break down the possible outcome we may see on this starting stage of La Vuelta 20. “I think the GC favourites won’t be able to hold any cards close to their chests,” says the winner of the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour de France 2009. “I expect a 20-strong group to make it together to the finish line. No one will let the race go this early, so gaps won’t be huge.” On this scenario, Alejandro Valverde’s speed can well deliver him victory – and La Roja! “This is a climb I know quite well,” said the 2018 UCI Road World Champion on his team’s press conference. “I’ll ride thinking of my chances, but also on my teammate’s: we ought to ride for the benefit of the team. If any of us wins in Arrate, it would be amazing!”

DEFENDING CHAMPION WITH A HIGH-RANKED LIEUTENANT
Team Jumbo-Visma enters La Vuelta 20 with one of the most powerful line-ups of the race. Last year’s overall winner Primoz Roglic is an obvious contender for the GC, but he is intended to share the leadership of his team with Tom Dumoulin, himself a renowned three-week rider. “It will be the same approach as in the Tour de France,” said Roglic on the team’s press conference. “Tom and I are the designated leaders and we will see who is in better shape as days go by.” Dumoulin already came close to triumphing in the Spanish grand tour back in 2015. “I have some really good memories from La Vuelta,” stated the Dutch cyclist. “I’ve only raced it twice, but on the second one I got two stage wins and I nearly won the GC. I’m happy to be back in Spain.” Build-up hasn’t been ideal for either of the two. “It’s been pretty much non-stop since the season resumed,” said Dumoulin. “After the Tour I went to the Worlds, then to the Ardennaises, so I only could spend two weeks at home to rest and prepare for this race. But it’s been almost the same for everyone.” Roglic delivered a quick analysis of the race route: “The third week is easier than the other two. We will find out from tomorrow, and over the first week, how good we are. The route seems fun as it will be full-on racing all the time, so I hope it will be entertaining to watch us from home.”

CARAPAZ FOR THE WIN, FROOME FOR THE FAREWELL
INEOS Grenadiers is one of the most successful teams in La Vuelta’s recent history. Under its previous incarnation, Team Sky, the British team won nine stages and two editions of the Spanish Grand Tour, both with Chris Froome. This will be quite a particular race for Kenyan-born rider, though, as he is bidding farewell to the team after 11 seasons. “And I’m looking forward to finish my time in INEOS on a high note,” he said on a press conference. “It is a bag of mixed emotions, really, as it’s strange to think I won’t be in INEOS colours in a few months time. I am going to enjoy this race anyway. This year’s won’t be your typical Vuelta, as with a colder weather it will feel as if we were racing in the Pays Basque for three weeks. For me personally I’m going to take these first few days to see where I am in the peloton.” The designated leader of INEOS Grenadiers for La Vuelta 20 is Richard Carapaz, winner of the Giro d’Italia 2019. “It’s been quite a strange season for all of us,” he stated. “I feel really prepared for this race and my motivation is very high. We have a great team to deliver a very good performance, and I want to race for the win. This first week is going to be decisive, and even the first stage will be quite telling of who is going to be fighting for the overall. We are not going to miss the chance of winning this race. Everyone will do his best for the team. I have a high opinion of Chris Froome and I’m sure his experience will be a great asset for us.”

LOW-KEY PINOT
On his fourth participation in La Vuelta, where he has finished twice inside the Top10 of the GC (7th in 2013, 6th in 2018), Thibaut Pinot is going to play quite a different role. After a far from ideal build-up, his goals are more modest than in previous editions of the Spanish grand tour. “I’m not 100% recovered from the back issues I suffered from during the Tour de France,” said the Frenchman today at Groupama-FDJ’s press conference. “It’s getting better, though. I wanted to enter this race because I didn’t want to end my season with that bitter taste the Tour left in my mouth. I hope La Vuelta will put me back on track for a nice winter season. I want to amuse myself as I haven’t done on a cycling race for a long time.” The leader of the French team for the GC will be David Gaudu, an up-and-coming climber. “There won’t be any easy days on the first week, so I’ll have to be in the mix from the very beginning. We bear very good memories of the Tourmalet, where Thibaut [Pinot] won a stage in last year’s Tour de France. I want to be up there already in Arrate, a climb I find suits my characteristics.”

CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA RACING WITH TWO BIG GOALS
The sporting goal of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA in La Vuelta 20 is crystal clear: fighting for a stage victory. The Spanish team hopes this edition of the race will be an open one, helping the chances of the breakaways to make it to the finish line. “Our motto during the build-up has been ‘A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores’ [Fishermen make their day in troubled waters],” said DS Xabier Muriel this morning on a press conference. “We’ve put together quite a balanced team, with several pure climbers, men for the hilly stages, and a fast sprinter like Jon Aberasturi,” he outlined. There is a second goal in sight for the Spanish outfit, though: #TuCorazónSuma (‘Your Heart Adds Up’). This charity initiative, set up by the team’s main sponsor, aims to raise 2.000€ on every single stage of La Vuelta 20 and donate the money to a project of the NGO Cáritas. “This team has always been sensible to social issues,” explained the team’s vice-president, Ricardo Goñi. “We’ve always tried to support those who need it the most. And this year it is even more important to do it.”
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