Movistar supervisor Eusebio Unzué acknowledged that signing Nairo Quintana was shocking however justified the choice, saying the Colombian was in an unfair state of affairs.
The UCI disqualified Quintana from the 2022 Tour de France after dried blood spot testing turned up optimistic for tramadol. The painkiller was not on WADA’s prohibited substance record on the time however was prohibited by the UCI. Will probably be banned by WADA from 2024, nonetheless.
The incident value Quintana his contract with Arkéa-Samsic and left him with out racing potentialities in 2023. That may change in February when the 33-year-old begins his season with Movistar on the Volta a Valenciana.
Unzué referred to as the Tramadol positives “errors” that have been “plain” in an interview with El Mundo Deportivo.
“These two errors did permit him to proceed racing, though the confusion, and the lack of confidence, meant that he was not racing this 12 months.
“With all that Nairo has contributed to biking, to the group itself and to Telefónica, we could not simply sit again and do nothing. The human component has additionally performed an essential function in his signing, particularly as a result of we’re assured that he’s nonetheless a person who can contribute quite a bit to the group along with his expertise, and we’ll absolutely see him up there on essential days.”
Unzué certified his expectations, saying, “I’m positive that his greatest days are behind him and plenty of of them we have now been fortunate sufficient to take pleasure in them,” including that he thinks Quintana will “relieve him of a number of the strain [Enric Mas] has been beneath this 12 months” as sole GC chief of the group.
“Understanding that he carried the only real duty for the group, generally that is an excessive amount of, and I believe the arrival of Nairo will be good for him on this sense,” Unzué mentioned.
“Sharing tasks with Nairo generally is a aid for Enric and might help him in order that his efficiency and remaining outcomes can match the standard he has,” including that his ends in 2023 “haven’t been as much as his sporting degree” and “haven’t carried out him justice”.
Mas twice completed second within the Vuelta a España however has had dangerous luck in his final two Tour de France makes an attempt, dropping out with COVID-19 in 2022 and crashing out on the opening stage this 12 months.
Unzué confirmed that Movistar hoped to signal Carlos Rodriguez from Ineos however a pre-contract settlement fell via.
“We have been very enthusiastic about signing him, however there was a clause that allowed for the potential of re-signing [with Ineos].
“My impression is that ultimately, he took into consideration the 4 years he had been with the Ineos group and the group of execs who’ve been working with him for thus lengthy. I believe this was decisive, together with the potential of having the ability to be the chief of his group subsequent 12 months.”
Unzué additionally recognised the disparity in price range dimension between Movistar and groups like Ineos and Jumbo-Visma, and mentioned the group are looking for a second sponsor to “have a sure steadiness and the power to maintain a number of the greatest riders from leaving and have extra choices out there.”