From the coach’s car, the Murcian now observes Spanish cycling from a different distance, but with the same clean look as always. Speak in BRAND of the young people who come, of Ayuso, by Pogacar, by Enric Mas and of a future that, although different from that of its golden generation, still invites us to believe.
Ask. How are you living this new stage?
Answer. Very good, the truth is that I am super comfortable. These are very nice championships for the fans, for the selectors, for the entire public and for the runners. My role here is to follow the runners a little. I only dedicate myself to professionals, but I am following more categories and also helping the other selectors a little. The truth is that I am happy.
Q. Blasi, Ostiz and Noval are or have been in these Championships. What will your ceiling be?
A. Incredible. They are walking a lot, they are doing exhibitions. Blasi had the bad luck of crashing in the time trial before being able to compete in the time trial the next day, but the performance that Noval is putting on today is also incredible.
Q. In Sabiñánigo we have seen runners like Pablo Castillo take an important step with his national time trial title. What does this evolution of Spanish cycling tell you?
A. Spanish cycling has a present and a great future. It has young riders who are evolving little by little, both in time trial and road racing. Pablo Castillo deserved it, he deserved to win. He did a great job, he had it very well studied the entire route and then the motivation and affection of his people helped him. I also want to highlight the great work that Pablo Torres did. Being the time trial that it was, doing third I think has great recognition and is to be admired. To Azparren, of course, and to all the other champions.
Getting a gold medal as a coach is also something that is very cool. I would still remove some
Q. Have you ever said that Pogacar is beatable? What is the real recipe to beat a rider like that in a World Championship or a great classic?
A. It is clear that he is beatable, but it is true that, being at his high level and without having any mishap, it is very difficult to beat him. Can you beat him? In the end he is human and can have bad days. That’s where the other runner has to try to beat him. In the Tour we are going to see if Vingegaard is recovering the form he had when he was one hundred percent, and Paul Seixas will see where he goes, but without any pressure, of course. Let’s see, let’s enjoy.
Q. Looking at the World Cup, does everything revolve around Juan Ayuso?
A. At the moment yes. I think everything revolves around Ayuso. He is also very aware of the World Cup, I think it is very good for him and he also knows that it is good for him. In fact, he will race the classics first, he will already be there in Montreal. I think we are going to make a great selection, like we did last year, and take the risk.
I don’t know if two or three rivals have raised their level and that’s why it’s so difficult to win.
Q. Is Ayuso more Valverde or more Contador?
R. Contador was clearly a grand tour runner, yes or yes. When he was in shape he was capable of winning any grand tour. Ayuso is still finding his place. I think that today he may be more like me than Alberto.
Q. Have you spoken with Enric? Do you think you can return to your best level?
A. I hope so. Yes I have spoken. It is true that in the Giro he came from a major injury, he had not competed practically, so we cannot ask for more from him. In a grand tour you have to come well, you have to come having raced something, because there are 21 days of competition. Not having competed and coming from an injury can always make you harder. But well, when he tried to be there, he already did a second stage, we have seen him do his things and I hope that in LaVuelta he will be the Enric of before.
Q. As a coach, what weighs more when choosing a team: the form of that month, the track record, the experience or the personal confidence that a runner transmits?
R. I think the whole thing. It is clear that you can talk to a runner today and, as the time approaches, for whatever reason he is not feeling well. Both last year and what I’m seeing now, the brokers are honest. When they say they are not good, they tell you: “Hey, take another runner, who I think can do it better than me.” That’s the luck I’m having. You have to look for everything: confidence in the runner, that he is in good shape at that moment and the name too, of course. That also weighs. Man, if you’re not well, it’s better to take another runner who can do a better job.
If they have the opportunity to go abroad and believe they will perform better, I don’t see it as bad.
Q. Movistar is experiencing a moment of transition and certain uncertainty regarding the future of the team. As a symbol of the house, how do you see the situation of Spanish cycling at a structural level? Will the structure continue?
R. I believe that the structure itself will continue. Hopefully it will be with the colors of Movistar, of Telefónica, but hey, Eusebio, that is, Abarca Sports, has signed until the 29th. Whether it is Movistar or whatever name it is, it has signed. The team will at least continue until there. Then we’ll see. Surely Eusebio has been searching for a long time.
Q. Would you change any of your World Cup medals other than gold to get a gold one from the car?
A. That’s a good question. The medals are good, but the truth is that getting a gold medal as a coach is also something that is very cool. Maybe I would tell you: “Well, look, I would remove some.”
Ayuso is still finding his place. Today he may be more like me than Alberto.
Q. You lived with Contador, Purito, Freire, Samu… What did that generation have that has not yet recovered Spanish cycling?
R. I don’t know, they are times. The truth is that that was a very good time for cycling. Both in grand tours, one-day races, one-week races, national, international, world, classic… Everywhere we went we had the option of winning and it was a very nice time. Now we have good runners, but I don’t know if it is because the rivals, or two or three rivals, have raised their level and it is so difficult to win. Hopefully. I believe that we have a good future ahead of us and we are going to think about that.
Q. Are you concerned that some Spanish talents have to go to foreign teams at a very young age to develop?
A. In the end, cycling is like that. Many times, if they stay in Spain, much better. But if they have the opportunity, both sportingly, economically and mentally, to go abroad and they believe they are going to perform better, I don’t see it as bad.
Q. The last one. There is a lot of talk about the heat and the stages of the Tour. Will the schedules have to be changed in the future or what can be done in that regard?
A. I think it has always been hot. We have had colder Tours, rainy Tours, tours in which it hasn’t rained at all and it has been very hot. This is so. I believe that the schedule is also on television and is estimated that way. For now I would leave it like this, I don’t see any change.
