Madrid event

World's best rider and Movistar Team paid tribute in Madrid on Monday as Telefónica CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete praises Dutchwoman's efforts.

The best rider in the world and one of the most remarkable sportswomen in recent times paid a visit to Telefónica’s Madrid central HQ on Monday. Annemiek van Vleuten, the big leader of the Movistar Team, was the main protagonist of a reception that paid tribute to her fantastic achievements as the first athlete in more than two decades to achieve the Giro d’Italia / Tour de France double, in an unforgettable month of July for the Blue outfit.

Telefónica CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete met Van Vleuten during an event where the Dutchwoman, Olympic time trial champion in Tokyo with almost one hundred victories in her palmarès, presented jerseys from her most recent conquests. Telefónica enjoyed the ‘maillots’ from the 2022 Giro d’Italia Donne and Tour de France Femmes, as well as the leader’s jersey of the 2021 Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta. The Spanish event, which Annemiek brilliantly notched up with two incredible stage wins in September last year, will again see her taking part from Wednesday in the La Vuelta-organised event, which starts this time from Cantabria.

Van Vleuten, who will continue wearing Telefónica’s jersey in 2023, in what will be the last season of her successful career, will seek at La Vuelta and the upcoming World Championships, to be held in Wollongong (Australia) on September 18-24, to increase the victory list of a Movistar Team which already hold her, even as an active rider, at a high status as one of their biggest legends.