“That contract is still there and that is the reality. I can not tell you more" - Movistar still waiting on final decision from Carlos Rodriguez
Cycling
One of the stars of the 2023 Tour de France, Carlos Rodriguez sparkled, taking a stage win and finishing 5th in the general classification. As such, the battle for his contract is fierce as both current employers INEOS Grenadiers and the highly interested Movistar Team fight it out to secure his services.
"Nothing is final yet. That contract is still there and that is the reality. I can not tell you more,” Sebastian Unzue, the Movistar Team boss has told GCN, referencing a pre-contract agreement in place with the Spanish starlet. Whether or not Rodriguez takes that contract or stays put at the INEOS Grenadiers however, remains to be seen.
“INEOS Grenadiers are also still interested, they have been there for several months, and they are trying to convince him to stay,” Unzue continues, explaining the delicate situation. "Life goes on. There are so many riders in the peloton and talents who are out of contract for next year. Whatever happens, I am open to new opportunities and maybe they will turn out better.”
"It's not the end of the world if he stays with INEOS," concludes the Movistar boss. "The plan was to race with Carlos as the leader of the classification next year, but we have now reached a point where we don't know what will happen."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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