Cycling: The Movistar team ended 6 at #2017 in the UCI team classification. The Spaniards, used to success, are not satisfied with the season – despite some impressive successes. No wonder, because for the first time since 2012 the UCI WorldTour ranking was not at the top of the season. To turn the tide again, Mikel Landa was signed by Team Sky, among others. Chris Froome's noble helper will now be pedaling for Quintana and Valverde - or can he even ride on his own account?
departures
Jonathan Castroviejo (Sky)
Alex Dowsett (Katusha Alpecin)
Jose Herrada (Cofidis)
Jesus Herrada (Cofidis)
Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida)
Daniel Moreno (EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale)
Rory Sutherland (UAE Emirates)
Adriano Malori (end of career)
Additions
Jaime CastilloLizarte
Mikel Landa (Sky)
Jaime Rosón (Caja Rural Seguros RGA)
Eduardo Sepúlveda (Fortuneo Oscar)
Rafael Valls (Lotto Soudal)
Team 2018
AMADOR Andrey
ANACONA Winner
ARCAS Jorge
BARBERO Carlos
BENNATI Daniele
BETANCUR Carlos
BICO Nuno
CARAPAZ Richard
CARRETERO Héctor
CASTRILLO Jaime
DE LA PARTE Victor
ERVITI Imanol
FERNANDEZ Rubén
LANDA Mikel
OLIVEIRA Nelson
PEDRERO Antonio
QUINTANA Nairo
QUINTANA Dayer
ROJAS José Joaquin
ROSON Jaime
SEPULVEDA Eduardo
SOLER Marc
SUTTERLIN Jasha
VALLS Rafael
VALVERDE Alejandro
Quintana disappointing, Valverde unlucky
Team Movistar has had two flagships for years: Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana. The Spaniard and the Colombian have actually always been real guarantors of success. Again this season, together they ensured 17 of the 31 victories of the Movistar team. Nevertheless, as a spectator you have the feeling that the season could have gone better. This already shows how high the bar is for the two captains. In terms of points and wins, 2017 was a weaker year than the previous ones for Valverde and Quintana. And that, although Quintana Tirreno-Adriatico won as well as Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The Colombian, spoiled by victory, just finished second at the Giro d'Italia and then ran out of breath in the Tour de France with twelfth place. The 9th stage of the Giro d'Italia should be his last win of the season. At Valverde, on the other hand, the year ended halfway through the season. The 37-year-old came to the Opening time trial of the Tour de France in Düsseldorf fell and was eliminated. Before that, however, he proved that even at this age he is still in a class of his own in some races. At the Ruta Del Sol, the Volta a Catalunya and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, among others, he didn't give the competition a chance. Also in the one-day classics Walloon Arrow and Liege-Bastogne-Liege the old hand left all competitors behind.
Landa turns the top duo into a trio
In 2018, the Movistar team will replace the dark blue with a very light blue. The new color of the jersey should not only give a signal effect in the coming season. Valverde is aging and Quintana has strong rivals in the world standings. As happened in 2017, other drivers should also ensure good results. Alex Dowsett, Rory Sutherland, Carlos Barbero, Gorka Izagirre, Jonathan Castroviejo, Jesus Herrada and Germany's Jasha Sütterlin contributed victories. This list cannot be extended in 2018 due to the departures, but newcomer Mikel Landa in particular should achieve even more triumphs at the top. In addition to him, the helpers Jaime Rosón, Eduardo Sepulveda, Rafael Valls and Jaime Castillo were committed. The numerous departures will hurt, especially in width. A total of eight well-known drivers turned their backs on Movistar, including five drivers who were also able to contribute victories this season. Apart from sprints and the classics on cobblestones, Movistar will undoubtedly be at the forefront on every terrain in 2018 as well.
#MovistarTeam2018 CAPOS 👊👊👊 pic.twitter.com/X1saxR71rU
- Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) 14 December 2017