The ‘new’ Movistar flies: Guerreiro, queen stage and leader in Arabia

Something clicked and, since then, everything is joy at Movistar. The Spanish team, after much suffering, has found itself again. The ambition is growing and the dynamic, winning, does not seem like a flower in a day. A good part of last season was marked by the threat of UCI relegation, with the calculator going up in smoke halfway through the course. The final stretch, however, straightened the course. Salvation was achieved and, apparently, the foundations of a new team were laid. By attitude and by names. The races began to be considered in a different way, with more fang, and the new signings seem to have arrived to give continuity. In October, the Spanish squad confirmed its three additions for the 2023 season: Iván Romeo, Ruben Guerreiro and Fernando Gaviria. Of the three, two have already raised their arms like telephones. Last week, in San Juan, it was Gaviria; Today, in the queen stage of the Saudi Tour, it was Guerreiro’s turn, powerful in the final sprint against Davide Formolo (UAE Team) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain). With a calm gesture, similar to that of his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, he achieved his fourth victory as a professional and placed himself as the leader of a general that tomorrow, in the last stage, he will try to defend. He has everything to do it.

“It’s been a really tough day. We didn’t know how the legs were going to react after three basically flat days and it was also a very stressful race, so getting to this point was anyone’s guess. The colleagues have been amazing. My director, Yvon, all the staff, assistants, mechanics… Grateful to all of them. It goes for this team and for my family. Happy for the opportunity they have given me to be part of this magnificent group, Eusebio and everyone. From the first moment I entered, it was clear to me that it was the right choice and it makes me happy to be able to dedicate this success to them”, declared the Portuguese rider after the victory. Morning, with 137 kilometers between Al-Ula and Maraya, without great mountainous difficulties, he will seek his first overall in a staged round.

The entire Movistar will throw themselves into it. Like this Thursday, with clear ideas from start to finish. Will Barta (5th) and Gregor Mühlberger (6th), in addition to chaining days with a lot of telephone presence in the top-10 (yesterday, Cortina, Rojas and Aranburu were third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the first stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana), They made things easier for the Portuguese to resist among the best in the final selection of the day, 163 kilometers between Maraya and Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid. Formolo, in the last kilometer of the last port of the day, located in the final part and with 3 kilometers at 12%, tried to prevent the stage from being resolved in a sprint. I couldn’t. His plan partner, Felix Grossschartner (UAE), Buitrago and Guerreiro did not buy it. They returned with him and the Portuguese, with authority, prevailed in the reduced volata.

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“This Saudi Tour, for me, was to wait, wait and wait. With the wind, or it went full speed or stopped. You had to know how to protect yourself from the air, all these days and especially today, with three hours of racing before the climb. Save legs, know when to get out and move. The two UAE were dangerous for the arrival and Santiago (Buitrago), too. He knew how to play his cards and do that ‘poker’: he cut himself on the climb, but then he sprinted at you for the bonus at the finish line. I have had to know how to play with them. I knew that if Felix joined our group it was good for us, because there were two UAE to work with instead of none., but Santiago was also fast, so you had to manage well. I have had the legs to be able to overcome them and I am very happy ”, Ruben said to complete his analysis. The Portuguese is highly valued for his climbing skills (stage and polka dot jersey in the 2020 Giro) and for his versatile profile for the classics. Also for that tip of speed that he was bringing up today. He was one of the most sought-after cyclists for this new season and Movistar took him away, who smiles and already makes him smile. The combo promises.

Classification | Stage 4

1º Ruben Guerreiro (By/Mov) – 3:45:01

2º Davide Formolo (Ita/UAE) – mt

3º Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain) – mt

4th Felix Grossschartner (Aus/UAE) – at 4″

5th Will Barta (USA/Mov) – 22″

6th Gregor Mühlberger (Aus/Mov) – 23″

Classification | General

1st Ruben Guerreiro (By/Mov) – 17:09:51

2nd Davide Formolo (Ita/UAE) – at 8″

3rd Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain) – 9″

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