Movistar Team embarks on Giro adventure
03 May 2011

Movistar Team have decided the 9-rider squad that will defend their jersey in the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, starting in Torino on Saturday 7th. Led by last edition's runner up in the Italian grandtour, the team will line up with David Arroyo (ESP), Pablo Lastras (ESP), Vasil Kiryienka (BLR), Sergio Pardilla (ESP), Luis Pasamontes (ESP), Branislau Samoilau (BLR), Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU), Carlos Oyarzun (CHI) and Fran Ventoso (ESP), all under the sports direction from José Luis Arrieta and José Luis Jaimerena.

The telephone squad’s General Manager Eusebio Unzué shows hopeful towards the chances from his team in their first ever Corsa Rosa with the blue and green colors of Movistar Team: “We are bringing a very solid block for this race, with names able to shine in all terrains. On the paper, we have in mind that Arroyo is our leader for the GC, him already knowing what it means to be on the podium of this race. He’s coming into the start in really good condition and has done several Giros within the best. From the rest I’ll be expecting some more things apart from supporting their leaders. We have good climbers like Pardilla who will find good terrain here; allrounders and puncheurs like Lastras, Kiryienka or riders performing well lately, such as Pasamontes, Samoilau, Konovalovas and Oyarzun. Plus, for the stages that end up into a sprint, which I expect won’t be too much, we’ll be counting on Fran Ventoso, who I think will be a real contender for the victories. It’s a big bummer for me not having Amador in, because he already knew the race and I’m sure he could have done some important things by the way he was feeling. The most important thing is that all the team is coming into the race in great form, and that makes me feel optimistic.”

“It’s clear that the ten victories we have achieved give us a bit more tranquility. Not only the wins, also the attitude from the team all year, since we did not ‘disappear’ in any race and always had some chance of victory. That keeps you always confident, because we have to keep in mind how big this year’s Giro is. Not just a geographically tough race -a bit more this season-, but also a field of participants that will be at least as strong as the Tour de France’s. That makes more difficult to do something big there, but we’ll be trying and I’m convinced it’ll be a spectacular race for all the fans.”