Movistar have confirmed their line-up for the 2018 Tour de France, with the Spanish squad aiming to finally wrestle the title from the grip of Team Sky.
To do that, they'll field their three strongest climbers to lead the team in France, with two-time runner-up Nairo Quintana, third-place in 2015 Alejandro Valverde, and last year's fourth place Mikel Landa all aiming for success at this year's race.
>>> Tour de France 2018 start list
It's unclear who will be the designated leader of the team, with management likely to make a decision as form starts to show through the opening stages of the race.
Team boss Eusebio Unzué said he expects the team to have an advantage with it's three-pronged attack, though they'll face a difficult opening week of Classics-style stages including the Roubaix cobbles as well as a crucial team time trial on stage three.
“We have an option A, but also a B and another C,” Unzué told EFE news agency at the team's press day last week.
“It’s a big advantage. We’ll see if that first part of the race treats us well, then we’ll enter the terrain where our three move very well and we’ll see what happens.
“We have to wait a bit for the first rest day to take stock, the road will help us decide who’s the best. We can’t ignore Nairo’s consistency, Alejandro has shown his trajectory and Landa gives us reasons to keep hopeful.”
The trio will be supported by a strong climbing unit of Paris-Nice winner Marc Soler and Costa Rica's Andrey Amador. Alongside them will be riders to help guide them through the flatter stages, including former Spanish champion José Joaquin Rojas, veteran sprinter Daniele Bennati and Classics man Imanol Erviti.
The Tour de France kicks off on Saturday July 7 with a 201km flat stage from Noirmoutier-en-l'Île to Fontenay-le-Comte.
Movistar line-up for the 2018 Tour de France
Nairo Quintana (Col)
Mikel Landa (Esp)
Alejandro Valverde (Esp)
Andrey Amador (CRC)
Marc Soler (Esp)
José Joaquin Rojas (Esp)
Imanol Erviti (Esp)
Daniele Bennati (Ita)
-
-
Track sprint: How the Tokyo 2020 Olympic track sprint works
The need to know about the sprint competition at the Olympic Games
By Richard Windsor •
-
Jolanda Neff criticises rival’s riding after Tokyo 2020 Olympic mountain bike incident
Gold medallist Neff said Pauline Ferrand-Prévot almost caused her to crash on the rock drop
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Marc Soler describes inability to stand up after Tour de France crash: 'I was really dizzy'
The Movistar rider crashed out of May's Giro d'Italia and is unlikely to return to Grand Tour action until next year
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Movistar's Davide Villella fined €180 for crossing finish line twice at Tour de Romandie
The Italian fell foul of one of the UCI's more peculiar regulations at the Swiss stage race
By Jonny Long •
-
Marc Soler triumphs in treacherous conditions to take race lead as Rohan Dennis crashes on stage three of Tour de Romandie 2021
Marc Soler emerged victorious in treacherously wet conditions on stage three of the Tour de Romandie, after race leader Rohan Dennis crashed in the final.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'It’s not only about riding, I have to challenge myself off the bike': Annemiek van Vleuten feeling faster than ever ahead of new season with Movistar
The Dutchwoman is looking to inspire and have fun in a Movistar team that is ready for winning
By Owen Rogers •
-
Alejandro Valverde says he will retire at the end of 2021
The 40-year-old former world champion wants to add an Olympics Games medal to the vast list of achievements before retiring
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Miguel Ángel López forced to miss his first Movistar training camp after coronavirus positive
Miguel Ángel López has been forced to skip his first training camp with Movistar after test positive for coronavirus.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Marc Soler soloes to much-needed win on stage two at the Vuelta a España 2020
Marc Soler takes his and Movistar's first win since February on stage two of the Vuelta a Epsaña 2020 with Primož Roglič keeping red.
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
‘If people saw the speeds we’re climbing, they wouldn’t complain about the lack of attacks,’ says Enric Mas
We’re now a week into the Tour de France 2020 and the general classification remains perfectly poised.
By Alex Ballinger •
