Dave Brailsford, Ineos manager. Serena Taylor (Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Monday, rest day, usual day for renewal and signing of cyclist contracts. Sunday, departure from Les Gets. Party around the Ineos bus. They celebrate two stage wins, they celebrate Poland’s Kwiatkowski, an experienced and hard-working cyclist who, thanks to his great class, is happy from time to time to add a jewel to his record, and above all, they celebrate Saturday’s revelation Carlos Rodríguez, a 22nd -year-old cyclist, a great hope because as a youngster he became champion in the downhill of La Joux Plane, at the finish line of Morzine. Coaches, directors, assistants, all at Ineos, including both Spaniards, know that the Almuñécar runner, who is four years old together, the years of his initial development and growth, has reached an agreement with Eusebio Unzue, from next season at Movistar, but everyone wants me to continue with that too.
They say it out of affection, because they love and like him, and they say it out of selfishness, because if winning Morzine is confirmation, they’re convinced he’s the rider who must guarantee strong leadership in the team. And they talk to each other and say that maybe it might be possible for the broker to back down and find a solution, some monetary compensation, that will allow him to break free and sign with them again. Their hearts, spirits and hopes lit up on Saturday afternoon when the Tour’s skipper made his first appearance at the Ibis de Sallanches, the hotel where they will spend the long Alpine weekend. Team, Dave Brailsford, who announces that he will be on the tour for three days, another who wants the man from Granada to continue with them, one who never moves without reason and who, in a brief dialogue in the Shadow of his bus more than dodges:
Questions. What do you think of Carlos Rodríguez?
Answer. I especially like him because he is very intelligent and will learn a lot. Best of all, he advances through his ability to learn. And because of his intelligence, he still has a lot of room for further development. It’s not just anyone. And it’s very beautiful. Everyone likes him, everyone feels comfortable with him. He has a fantastic character. Very good mentality. It’s very, very good, yes. And it’s Spanish.
Q Carlos has an agreement with Movistar but it’s been heard you want him to stay with Ineos, you need him as a leader. Thomas retires, Egan remains a question mark… Is there a chance?
R Carlos still has a valid contract with us. Now all we can think about is the race. Day to day. The mountain on Sunday, the time trial on Tuesday…
Q But would you like me to continue with Ineos?
R We will focus on the race. We’ll think about the contracts later.
Q They arrived on Saturday and will leave on Tuesday… Monday, a day of rest, is contract day and Sallanches is half an hour from Italy, from the country of Carlos Rodríguez’ agent Giuseppe Acquadro…
R Yes, yes, normally the rest day is a day for extensions and transfers, we’ll see, we’ll see…
Q So you’re leaving with a new contract with Carlos on Tuesday, right?
R Hahaha, nice try, nice try.
Inside Movistar there is security from the outside – there are already signed papers – and inner unrest. Some members of the team recall the history of their relationships with manager Acquadro – a precedent: In 2019, the Brailsford Ineos paid compensation determined by the TAS to Movistar to save Costa Rican Andrey Amador, another Acquadro cyclist, with a valid contract With the Unzue team, they fear that given their unlimited economic power, Ineos is willing to compensate Movistar with a staggering sum of up to a million euros to keep the sexitan jewel. For the cyclist, the economic gain and convenience of not having to change habits or methods would be a plus; For the only Spanish team in the WorldTour, the loss of Carlos Rodríguez, a cyclist pursued since his youth and rejected by Acquadro in another moment of bad relations, would be almost catastrophic. Spanish cycling will be closer to that of Almuñécar and Juan Ayuso in the coming years and the two would compete in foreign teams.
To anyone who asks about his future, the cyclist replies with the same answer: “Ask my manager.” He’s the only one who can say anything. Whom he asks, the Piedmontese agent, he answers almost as evasively: “There is a preliminary contract with Movistar, but no contract.” It is a probable but not definitive option. Ineos is still a possibility.”
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