Richard Carapaz and Carlos Rodríguez under interest of Movistar Team

Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that Movistar Team are making efforts to renew their mountain team with Alejandro Valverde set to retire at the end of 2022. Daniel Martínez has been mentioned as an option, Richard Carapaz has been rumoured, and fellow INEOS Grenadiers rider Carlos Rodríguez seems to be a target for the Spanish team aswell.

This comes after interest has been shown to his teammate Richard Carapaz. No official statement has been made, and with the Ecuadorian currently in contention for the Giro d'Italia, it's unlikely that the teams will bring up the subject. As for Carlos Rodríguez, he is likely to make his debut Grand Tour later on the year at the Vuelta a España, a big step for the Spaniard who has shown great stage-racing abilities over the last few years.

Movistar have always been a team guided towards the Grand Tours, with the likes of Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and more recently Enric Mas taking responsibilities over the team's ambitions in the three-week races. With a focus on these races, the team will be looking for a replacement for Valverde, with several riders from Spanish-speaking countries as priorities.