3rd May 2018
We bring you quotes from all eight Movistar Team riders lining up in the 101st ‘Corsa Rosa’, which starts in Jerusalem on Friday
CARLOS BETANCUR
“My preparations for the Giro have been – well, basically riding hard for the last two months! I had to start my season late because the ankle was still hurting from my injuries in the Vuelta, and it’s just logical that I’ve found better legs with every race I’ve completed. I’m feeling in good condition before this race. I’m really eager to do well in this race – I’m yet to see what my real condition is, but on the psychological side, I feel really strong. The Etna mountain-top finish should be the one letting us know what we can really aim for in this race. My goal before the start, though, is trying to stay with the top contenders.
“We’ve got a very young squad, but we’re always willing to bring the Blue colours as near to the front as possible, and fight for the win at every stage that suits us. For me, coming to the Giro is a pleasure, since it’s the competition I like the most. Racing here always makes me give it my all, and I hope to squeeze every bit of energy I’ve got at this year’s race, too.”
RICHARD CARAPAZ
“After Paris-Nice and the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, I left for Ecuador to train in altitude. I feel very much ready to take on this Giro, and really willing to do well. I’ve shown with my victory in Asturias than I’m in good form, and I’ve got many expectations put on this Giro. My main goal will be to get a good overall result – it’d be nice to finish up there near the top guys. And of course, winning a stage here would be fantastic.
“Last year I already completed a three-week stagerace at the Vuelta a España, and that experience is always good when you take on another one. I feel more confident and better prepared for the challenge, and I’ll try to do my best. There are plenty of young riders here, chasing for a good result for the team, and I think everyone will have a chance to shine. We’ll try and make the rest of the Movistar Team, our fans and sponsors happy.”
VÍCTOR DE LA PARTE
“After the Vuelta al País Vasco, I spent almost 20 days training in altitude in Colombia, and then came back to Europe to suffer a little bit and gain racing pace at the Vuelta a Asturias, just before the Giro. I first raced here last year and I really loved the event. It’s got impressive fans, a beautiful atmosphere, everyone’s more excited since it’s the first Grand Tour of the race, it’s also a tough one and the biggest stage race contenders are coming here lately.
“It’ll be a different Grand Tour for us – we might as well be a bit disoriented because we’re used to bring a big leader, someone who’s in a position to win the race. Our role will be diverse this time: we’re taking chances, we’re riding offensive, trying to get the team to the front. It should be a beautiful Giro, very demanding especially on the final week, and not having a big leader, we must go day-by-day and seek for everyone’s opportunities, one rider at a time. We’re a strong group even if there are so many youngsters. I feel like we can do well.”
RUBÉN FERNÁNDEZ
“After getting over my injury, I headed to Sierra Nevada to train and rest in altitude for a few weeks, starting to build up a solid form before the spring. I got back to racing at the Klasika Primavera, then competed at Castilla y León with quite better feelings, and at the Vuelta a Asturias I saw my legs were already at really good condition.
“I’m not putting any goals on my performance at this Giro. My real objective here is finding the form I’ve not able to achieve since 2016. I’m sure I can get to that fitness again. My team-mates seem to be doing really strong, too – I think we can contest both stage wins and a good overall result with riders like Betancur and Carapaz. The Giro is really beautiful; I got to know it in 2015 and the ‘tifosi’ are just incredible. It’s a special race for me.”
ANTONIO PEDRERO
“I’ve got prepared for this Giro with a three-week altitude camp in Andorra. I felt well there, and I didn’t have any problems to complete the training program we had set on myself. Later on I raced in Asturias, and things went pretty good there. My goal here is supporting the team wherever possible, and also try and confirm the level I showed in last year’s Vuelta is my real potential. The good load of experience I gathered there should help me improve as a rider. Those are two different races, but in the end, it’s a three-week event in both cases, so the stamina and commitment required should be the same.
“What have I been told about the Giro? One thing above all: lots of mountains! The battle will be fierce here. I think all of my team-mates are coming in very good form to this race, and with such tough stages, the route should suit us. I think we can be near the front and offer some good glimpses of our quality, just like in last year’s Vuelta. I know how the route will be, but I haven’t set my sights on any particular stage – we must go day-by-day.”
DAYER QUINTANA
“I spent the month before the Giro training in Colombia and staying with my loved ones, which always brings you a morale boost. I headed back to Europe in time for the Tour de Romandie – I was feeling a bit sick there and couldn’t show my real condition, but I think I’m fine now, and should be doing quite better. My personal goal will be to get into the breaks and, should an opportunity for me to win arise, I’ll make the most of it. But, in general, the objective for us all will be to support each other – there are many strong team-mates here and working together is usually the key for success. I see them doing great – there are many youngsters, but also some experienced guys like Betancur and Valls and also brilliant riders like Carapaz, who should be strong enough to fight for stage wins or a fine GC finish.
“After three years I’m back at the start line of a Grand Tour, and it’s a big challenge for me. The first time might have been a little bit more exciting, yet this one is more of a responsibility inside the team for me. I got to know the Giro well in 2015 – it was spectacular. It’s a fantastic race, because of its routes and also the passion of its fans.”
EDUARDO SEPÚLVEDA
“I feel I’m coming to this Giro in good form. I hope to be as fit as it’s required to support my team-mates and seek for some individual chances. I’ve spent the last few weeks training at home in Andorra’s altitude, and later on raced Romandie, where my legs didn’t feel bad at all. I’m not setting any specifical goals on myself for this race, rather than enjoying it and trying to excel at some mountain stages. There are many beautiful routes in this course and surely we’ll have some good chances to do well. I think the whole team will be strong here, with talented riders like Carapaz and Betancur, who could claim a good GC result.
“I’m so excited to debut in the Giro; I’ve never raced here, but followed it closely on television and I’m so excited to have a chance to enjoy this race from inside – it looks fantastic. Many people have told me good stories about this race – I keep in mind this will be tough, yet its charm makes it more attractive than grueling.”
RAFA VALLS
“I’ve been at Sierra Nevada for 20 days before the Giro. It was a very tough three weeks of training, and I hope to get some fruit from those efforts here. My goal should be fighting for a stage win, as well as getting better during the Giro and reach as far as possible. I’ve been out of the Grand Tours for more than two years and that makes me even more excited about this race. Because of the injury I suffered last season, it’s not clear how I’ll react to continued efforts for three weeks. Let’s hope I get to remember quickly how it was to do well in such.
“I’ve raced the Giro twice, and for me, with its tough routes, it’s the hardest of the three Grand Tours. And the weather makes for an even more difficult course. We’re bringing a team full of up-and-coming talent, with guys who can do well here and are in good form. Carapaz, Betancur – and the rest of the squad. We’re pretty well balanced, with strong climbers and an overall good level. We should be in for a good performance here.”
