Awaiting for better occasions
09 March 2011

Movistar Team underwent no major troubles in his two competitions on Wednesday, the fourth stage of Paris-nice and the opening ride of the 46th Tirreno-Adriatico, both classed into the prestigious World Tour calendar.

At the Italian race, the group directed by José Luis Jaimerena clocked a mark a bit off the expectations on them, but in contrary, they were able to reach the finish with all eight components. Movistar Team set a time of 18.51 after the 16.5km team time trial -the first one from the team on blue skinsuit- in Marina di Carrara, fifty seconds behind Rabobank, the winning squad of the day. A predictable sprint will be held on Thursday in Arezzo, at the end of a 200km flat ride, where Fran Ventoso will be focused on profiting from his great speed to succeed within some of the world’s best sprinters.

In turn, the contest on French turf saw seven categorized climbs being tackled as an apethizer of tomorrow’s first big mountain stage -with the Cat. 1 Col de Mûre just 9 kilometers from the end-, a long 5-rider breakaway being able to hold on until the finish and allow Belgium’s Thomas de Gendt retake his yellow jersey. Movistar Team was permanently on the front protecting their GC and stage-contesting riders, with JJ Rojas seeing the successful escape avoiding him contesting for the stage triumph. Xavi Tondo, David López, Pardilla or Luis Pasamontes will surely be fighting tomorrow in a stage more suited for them, which will start defining the final outcome before the decisive 27km ITT in Aix-en-Provence on Friday.