Eusebio Unzué, boss of Movistar Team: "The arrival of Nairo Quintana will take pressure off Enric Mas"

Eusebio Unzué, the Movistar Team boss, has given an overview of his team's 2023 season and talked about the signings and what he expects from the next campaign, putting the focus on two names that will be key as Nairo Quintana and Enric Mas.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Spaniard from Navarre explains the reasons why the team did not perform as expected this past season and gives the keys to make 2024 a successful year for the team. He touches on all topics, including the frustrated signing of Carlos Rodríguez.

SEASON 2023.

"Man, it certainly has not been the year we would have liked, but it is true that there are very interesting things, such as the progression of Einer Rubio, with two very important victories in the UAE Tour and the Giro d'Italia; the progression and victories of Oier Lazkano, and I would say that also a very pleasant impression with the year of Ivan Romeo. Then I would talk about the consolidation of Matteo Jorgenson and it is true that Fernando Gaviria has lacked the luck that sometimes is also decisive for the sprinters, although I expected some more victories than the two he has achieved".

"The friend Enric (Mas) has more level than he has shown with the results he has achieved. To be eliminated by an unfortunate crash in the Tour de France was to be left without a leader. It was almost like a cursed Tour in terms of bad luck, as two or three teammates also crashed out. The Tour is the race that you come to with the most illusion and in which we were denied almost everything".

VUELTA AND TOUR.

"I don't want to blame the way we did this year in La Vuelta on what we experienced in the Tour, because I think it's also true that the team did good stages in France. Matteo, Pedrero or Aranburu himself did well. It is true that these good performances have not been finished off with a victory and in the end all these details are those that end up marking the year. As for the rest, as far as the team's attitude is concerned, I'm very satisfied".

"Davide Cimolai is a veteran rider who will also come in handy at certain times because of his experience. I hope he will be decisive for Gaviria. Cavagna is a very experienced cyclist, a great time trialist, and he and Formolo will bring their experience to Movistar. They come from other teams, with another way of racing, which can always be interesting, and for young riders like Pelayo, Barrenetxea or Romo it can be good for them. I think all of them are kids who have proven to have a very interesting level and I think that any of our young riders are ready to do interesting things in the coming years".

CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ.

"Carlos had signed a pre-contract with us and we were very excited about signing him, but it is true that there was a clause that contemplated the possibility of resigning. What happened? My impression is that in the end he took into account the four years he had been with the Ineos team and the group of professionals who have been working with him for so long. I think this was a determining factor, together with the possibility of being able to be the leader of his team next year.

"He was not living a fair situation, cycling was not being fair with him, despite the two mistakes he made, which is unquestionable, but those two mistakes allowed him to continue racing, although that confusion, that loss of confidence, meant that he was not racing this year. It's true that at the last minute we also understood that with all that Nairo has contributed to cycling, to the team itself and to Telefónica, we couldn't just sit back and do nothing. The human side has also played an important role in his signing, and above all because we are confident that he is still a man who can contribute a lot to the team with his experience, and we will surely see him on important days, although I am clear that his best days are behind him and many of them we have been lucky enough to enjoy them. I think that where he coincides with Enric (Mas) he can also be a man who can help him a lot, especially to share that responsibility as the two pillars of the team. What's more, I think Nairo's arrival will be good for Enric, as it will relieve him of some of the pressure he's been under this year".