With the final victory of Alberto Contador (SBS) -with David Arroyo 14th-, and triumph in the final time trial for Millar (GRM) -Kiryienka was 13th- has ended in Milan the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, a race that Movistar Team won’t forget for all the moments lived during three weeks.
The Corsa Rosa done by the telephone squad has been directly and inevitably marked by the tragedy of the death of Xavi Tondo last Monday. His colleagues had conspired to honor his memory in competition and yesterday they paid him the best of tributes getting Vasil Kiryienka the stage victory in Sestriere. This was the second triumph for the team this year, after Cantabrian Fran Ventoso achieved a spectacular sprint in Friuli. In addition, two second places (Lastras and Ventoso) in stages, constant presences in breaks and the second position in final teams classification.
Eusebio Unzué: “It has been three weeks too long because of all things that have happened in this Giro. The results on the road have been very positive with two stage wins. Both was quite intense; Ventoso, apart from its confirmation with top sprinters and the authority with which he won, gave us some quiet for the rest of the race. And Vasil’s victory had a big emotional charge carried. Futhermore, as important as the successes, I would highlight the general attitude of all the riders and among them, especially Lastras. I think Pablo has been at the best level of all three-week races he has ridden, being with top riders in places that it was difficult to see him. Unfortunately, he could not finish with a win, but I think that it’s not because, as he says, he has forgotten how to triumph but because it has become the reference for all its rivals when it goes into a break.
Arroyo has been in a good shape during two weeks, but in the third week he has accumulated everything and I am sure he has been particularly influenced by the death of Xavi, especially these two particularly hard days. It is difficult to qualify the team this last week after what happened on Monday. The simple fact to finish it was worthy of admiration, but it has been more the behavior the guys have had these days. They tried together to dedicate a victory to Xavi and they have fought every day to achieve as it did Vasil yesterday.
We have been near to accomplish some objectives, like it was to put David in the top-ten, and we finally lost the teams classification which was an illusion for us. But this second place perfectly reflects the level we have shown these twenty-one days. In this week of glory and misery, we’re going with a huge pity for the loss of Xavi, but also proud and pleased with the roster that Movistar Team has”.