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  • Movistar. End of cycle with the march of Nairo Quintana

Just 48 hours after its start, the Tour of Spain has lost one of its main favorites. Movistar announced on Thursday that Richard Carapaz will not take the exit in Torrevieja , suffering from physical problems due to a fall suffered in a critérium last Sunday. His place in the telephone lineup will be taken by José Joaquín Rojas , who in the first instance, and by surprise, was discarded.

The Spanish team had already warned in the morning that the participation of the current winner of the Giro was in doubt and that such doubt would be resolved as late on Friday. Finally, Movistar has decided not to wait any longer. As detailed by the squad in a statement, Carapaz "suffers a strong bruise on his right shoulder, as well as multiple injuries, after a fall last Sunday at the Criterium Profronde van Etten-Leur (Netherlands)."

"Despite the treatment received since then and the absence of fractures, the evolution of the lesions advises a greater precaution for its total restoration, so it will not take part in the race," continues the announcement of the Movistar, whose options to win the Tour they are weakened with the absence of the Ecuadorian.

A priori, Carapaz was to be the team leader with Nairo Quintana , with Alejandro Valverde free to seek partial victories. With the loss of the winner of the Giro, the structure of the squad changes. What remains to be seen is in what sense it does. Quintana could remain as the sole leader, but there is also the option for Marc Soler to climb the ranks and share the gallons with the Colombian. Not surprisingly, Soler will be the leader of Movistar next year in the big laps with Enric Mas.

In an interview on Radio Marca, Pablo Lastras already left open the possibility that the Catalan could act as a co-leader, even with Carapaz in liza. "The leaders can be Carapaz and Nairo, Soler and Nairo or Soler and Carapaz," said one of the directors of the Eusebio Unzué team . In addition to Quintana, Valverde and Soler, the 'eight' of the Movistar is now completed by the Antonio Pedrero climber, the Imanol Erviti, Nelson Oliveira and Jorge Arcas riders and the José Joaquín Rojas SUV.

The one in Carapaz is not the only last minute change in the participants of the Tour. Ineos has also announced this morning that David de la Cruz, discarded in the first instance, will take the exit in Torrevieja. The victim is Kenny Elissonde , who in statements to Cycling News has said he has not received any explanation of this last minute change.

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