"We will have many more opportunities" - Annemiek van Vleuten's Movistar teammate about power vacuum in the Spanish team

With Annemiek van Vleuten "out of the way", many of her former teammates at Movistar Team might now see an opportunity to express themselves and, ideally, becoming the next leading face of this traditional Spanish team.

"Annemiek’s been very important for the team, a great leader, a person who has given a lot to cycling, a reference point," Sara Martín wasn't shy to compliment her idol in an interview with Cyclingnews.

Read also

Belgian Cycling reveal controversial new kit

"Not having that key leader in the Grand Tours this year will make the team change. We’ve always been consistent, and maybe we’ll all be playing our cards in different races now, being more versatile and doing the races differently. But we’ll still have some different challenges and some great options."

"But you never know. It could even be a good thing, it could mean the other riders can evolve and we will have other opportunities and we can be more ambitious as well."

Read also

E3 Saxo Classic apologise after controversial LGBTQ/Wout van Aert cartoon posted on their social media

"What disappoints me a bit is the negative vibe around Wout van Aert" - Marcel Kittel and Tom Boonen preview Spring Classics