ALCOBENDAS (MADRID), Dec. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Movistar Team presented its new projects for the 2023 season this Wednesday, where it will have 45 cyclists and the first one without Alejandro Valverde, but with “the guaranteed generational change” in the men’s team after the great end of the year by Enric Mas and with a female “‘team'” led by the Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten.
The Spanish team will have 45 cyclists, 30 men and 15 women, with Alex Aranburu, Jorge Arcas, Will Barta, Imanol Erviti, Iván García Cortina, Fernando Gaviria, Abner González, Ruben Guerreiro, Juri Hollmann, Gorka Izagirre, Johan Jacobs, Matteo Jorgenson, Max Kanter, Oier Lazkano, Enric Mas, Lluís Mas, Gregor Mühlberger, Mathias Norsgaard, Nelson Oliveira, Antonio Pedrero, Vinícius Rangel, Óscar Rodríguez, José Joaquín Rojas, Iván Romeo, Einer Rubio, Sergio Samitier, Gonzalo Serrano, Iván Sosa , Albert Torres and Carlos Verona forming the masculine.
For its part, the women’s team will be made up of Katrine Aalerud, Aude Biannic, Jelena Eric, Sarah Gigante, Alicia González, Sheyla Gutiérrez, Liane Lippert, Floortje Mackaij, Sara Martín, Emma Norsgaard, Lourdes Oyarbide, Paula Patiño, Gloria Rodríguez, Arlenis Sierra and Annemiek van Vleuten.
The general manager of the structure, Eusebio Unzué, thanked “the support of ‘Telefónica’ in the hardest moments of a difficult year”. “You have been there when it was most needed. I also thank the rest of the sponsors, those who have been there and those who follow, I have no doubt that you have been decisive,” he added.
“We have lived through a really difficult year, full of contrasts, in which we have had to face what would be the last of Alejandro Valverde, with all that it has meant and will continue to mean, but also with the consolidation of the women’s team, with the genius of Annemiek van Vleuten, which will be historic challenges that will be difficult to beat,” said the Navarrese.
But the men’s team was also “flirting for part of the year with the possibility of relegation.” “That’s where the commitment of the entire team came to light, it was impressive how they reacted in the last five or six months,” he admitted.
At that point, Unzué had words of praise for Enric Mas, who underpinned “his leadership status”. “Only bad luck prevented him from doing things in the first part as he did in the final part and the Vuelta”, he recounted about the Spaniard who gave “a lesson in strength” after “breaking down” in the Tour de France and having to leave due to coronavirus
However, although “normally it takes longer to recover”, Mas was able to “provide a season finale that reiterates that the generational change is given and his solidity as a leader as well”. “I was amazed at how he recovered 25 days after being the way he was on the Tour,” he underlined.
The Movistar Team manager admitted that “the difficulty has brought out the best in each one” in the structure. “Sometimes, one is grateful that after the end they have gone through this and I hope that when the season begins this will be ratified and that with the growth of all the young people we will continue to honor this brand,” he stressed.
Regarding the women’s team, which is in its sixth season, he assured that they have managed to form “a great team”. “We have confidence in these great runners that they will have the privilege of living with another model of cycling history such as Annemiek,” she said.
ÁLVAREZ PALLETE: “VALVERDE AND VAN VLEUTEN, EXTRAORDINARY CHAMPIONS”
For his part, the president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez Pallete, wanted to mainly “thank you” to Annemiek van Vleuten and Alejandro Valverde who “has been spectacular throughout his career”. “They are two extraordinary champions who honor us by wearing our jersey. Alejandro has been spectacular,” he remarked, showing his astonishment at seeing how “in all corners people turned” to the Murcian. “I was very impressed that his wife was surrounded by all that love,” he added.
The manager also acknowledged that they are “very excited” about the upcoming season and that after having had the opportunity to “be closer to the team” they have been able to realize that “it is a machine that works perfectly”.