Movistar move on after not being able to sign Carlos Rodríguez "That space will be used by other riders"
Cycling
For some time now, Sebastián Unzué has ceased to be Eusebio's son and has become an important part of Movistar Team's technical staff. Carlos Rodríguez was the main aim of the winter period, but the Spaniard chose to stay with INEOS Grenadiers alongside promises of leadership and a reported salary of over €2 million.
In a recent interview with Lepuncheur s colleagues, he explains the sporting planning for 2024, which began with the shock of not signing Carlos Rodriguez: "It's hard to lose a rider that you count on and in whom you have high hopes because you think he's a perfect fit for the team. What happened to Carlos was to digest it, assimilate it, accept it and keep working," Unzué admits. "I already did that in the summer, when I saw that it was going to be almost impossible for the agreement we had to be respected and for him to come with us".
Playing with the market to sign once Carlos decided to renew with INEOS Grenadiers: "People sometimes tell you that Carlos is not coming and no one else is coming in his place. But in the market there is what there is. It's not as easy as saying: this rider is free, I want him, I have him."
"What I am convinced of is that the remaining space will be filled by those riders. If there's one thing we have, it's a lot of youth with potential." The Spanish team signed the likes of Nairo Quintana, Rémi Cavagna, under-23 time-trial World Champion Lorenzo Milesi, and Pelayo Sánchez who has won the Trofeo Pollença - Port d'Andratx already.
Speaking of those 'other riders' who could explode at Movistar Team, Unzué highlights what Oier Lazkano or Matteo Jorgenson did in 2023:
"Who would have thought a year and a bit ago that we would see the Lazkano we saw in 2023. Nor did anyone imagine the level that Matteo Jorgenson has reached when he arrived at Movistar. I hope that something similar will happen with riders who have arrived".
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He gives names and surnames to these potential talents (Carlos Canal, the recent winner in Majorcan lands Pelayo Sanchez or even the signing of Nairo Quintana):
"There is talent: Canal, Pelayo, Manlio, people a bit older like Cavagna and Formolo. In the end there is a super-compensated squad. If what happened to Carlos had happened, maybe the door wouldn't have opened for Nairo. I think it's going to be a good year. We have a good squad.
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Article written by Juan Larra.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
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¡¡¡𝐃𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎!!! 🗡️🗡️🗡️ 🇪🇸 Pelayo Sánchez remata a la perfección en meta y regala a @Movistar_Team la primera victoria de la temporada. #challengemallorca | #TrofeuPollençaPortAndratx
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