After a journey in the desert of 344 days without victories, the Movistar Team crossed the path of Fernando Gaviria (La Ceja, 28 years old) like an oasis, a lifeline with which the Colombian begins to recover his best top speed in mass arrivals. This was demonstrated in the fourth stage of the Vuelta a San Juan, as if it were a trip to the past, where he surpassed in the volata a peter saga with much authority.
The celebration, after almost a year of drought, it was well thought out. Right hand to the face, with the little finger extended towards the mouth to simulate a phone call. A nod to what he considers his new “family”. Fernando is also beginning to fulfill his maximum objective in the telephone squad, as he confessed to AS and other Spanish media in the days before the race: “My goal is to make Eusebio happy (Unzué)”.
“Since I signed a contract, that celebration that I have done occurred to me, it was a way of thanking Movistar for everything they have trusted in me. They have done an excellent job today. I’m happy to be here, with these young guys who are giving everything for me. The progress I see in them is very important and the will they have has shown me that they want to do things well and they are happy to learn something new. That deserved that he give his all to get a victory. This team is like a big family and they have accepted me incredible. That makes me very happy and makes me give a little more of myself in effort and in taking care of myself with food”, Gaviria analyzed in the press conference after his victory in relation to a work ethic, previously criticized by Matxin, his former director at the UAE Team, who seems improved.
As the Colombian explained, the Pablo Lastras’ career vision was key for the achievement of victory. The director of Movistar in San Juan warned his riders on the radio that sprinters of the stature of Sam Bennett and Fabio Jakobsen, the first two stage winners in this edition, were off the hook at the first ports. Gaviria asked his teammates to break the race to prevent the Irish and Dutch from returning to the group, and the rest already know him.
A choral work with which the Colombian achieved his ninth stage victory in the Argentine race and the 50th of his record (I had not won since last February 15 in the Tour of Oman): “A huge happiness. I was looking for her. I prepared very well all winter and today it happened. The team really behaved up to the mark, as they have been doing all week. Now seen as a leader, but it is anecdotal; surely on Friday in the Colorado I will be last almost all day and I will arrive losing half an hour (laughs). It will be a day to go as calmly as possible and think about fighting for the two stages that will remain in the weekend”. Gaviria recovers his smile at Movistar.