Perfect start for Movistar at Giro d'Italia - "Van Aert and I were fighting behind" Orluis Aular says after third place

The Giro d'Italia 2025 has started off well for Movistar Team. Einer Rubio only had to stay in the peloton and by doing so, he managed to gain time already on several of his direct rivals in the battle for a spot in the Top10, whilst Orluis Aular pulled off a brilliant ride to join Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert in the podium of the first stage.

The news of the day was the abandon of Mikel Landa after a hard crash 5 kilometers from the finish line, but the race had to continue towards the final sprint where Movistar Team came close to victory. A brilliant Orluis Aular gave the team a third place behind only Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert.

Whilst Pedersen was being led out by Mathias Vacek, the Venezuelan rider was shoulder-to-shoulder with Wout van Aert, behind. However, he had to settle for that third place that confirms the choice of Movistar to bet on him and not Fernando Gaviria for this Corsa Rosa.

Speaking after the stage, Orluis Aular explained his feelings after this great start for the Spanish team: "Very happy to be third in a very pure sprint. The important thing is the sensations. I have very good legs, and the team has helped me a lot. Very happy with this first test in this Giro d'Italia".

Aular says he sees himself capable of going for stages, and this result gives him the boost he needs. To conclude, he also narrated a bit about how the fight with two titans like Pedersen and Van Aert unfolded:

"I tried to follow Pedersen's wheel, because he was the favorite. Van Aert and I were fighting behind. He won the position and I tried to do my sprint. In the end I got a great third place," concluded the Ecuadorian, who is making his first Giro d'Italia debut this year.