Movistar yet to decide who is leading the team at the Vuelta a España
Spanish team ready to let the race decide which of Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde will take up the leadership role at the Vuelta, with both riders eyeing victory
Team Movistar says that it has two overall leaders for now in the Vuelta a España: Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde, second and third in the Tour de France behind Chris Froome. A decision on who will take control is expected soon, with the younger Quintana likely to take the reins of the Spanish team.
They already faced their first test on Sunday's stage two in Caminito del Rey, where Quintana attacked immediately and Valverde, hoping to win the stage, faded. Valverde would not speak after the stage, but Quintana underlined his Vuelta aims.
"I'm here to win," the small 25-year-old Colombian said.
Quintana placed second to Froome in the Tour de France twice, in July and two years ago in 2013. He won the 2014 Giro d'Italia. In the Vuelta, though, he has yet to have luck.
Last year, he was due to lead his team through the three weeks in Spain, but crashed in the time trial and abandoned. Even if 35-year-old Valverde has more experience with seven podium finishes in Grand Tours including his 2009 Vuelta win, it appears Quintana will lead eventually if all goes to plan.
"We will see about leadership," Quintana added. "We are both in good shape."
Movistar, as when a team often has two strong leaders, are sticking with the line: "We will let the road decide the leader."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
They are convinced the two can live together "sin problem." At the Tour, they raced side-by-side and both reached the podium behind Froome. At the Vuelta last year, Valverde went on to third overall after Quintana returned to Colombia. In the 2012 Vuelta, his first Grand Tour, Quintana worked for Valverde.
"It's important that the two captains are well, and at this moment, they are and have the goal of the classification," Team Manager Eusebio Unzué told Cycling Weekly this morning.
"Nairo knows that he's in an ideal situation, and it's the same for the team. It's not difficult to go for one rider or another. It's not a problem of who is the leader of the team because when the classification gets sorted, it'll be clear."
Quintana's first obstacle could be the nearly 40km individual time trial to Burgos in the final week. If he loses less than one-and-a-half minutes or less, Unzué will be happy.
"The time trial, that's where he's always lacking," Unzué said. "In the climbs, which he showed in the Alps at the Tour, he can stay there or drop Froome."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Jonas Vingegaard is 'happy' while Tadej Pogačar calls Tour de France 2025 route 'brutal'
Visma-Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann says course 'certainly appeals' to Dutch squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Do cycling jackets have to get a lot worse for the environment to get a bit better?
Will our waterproof cycling rain jackets still keep out the elements now that the old way of manufacturing is being banned
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
By Adam Becket Published
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
Still got it: Alejandro Valverde takes victory on gravel debut in Spain
42-year-old prevails in his first event since road retirement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis Published