After three years at Lampre-Merida for which he won a Vuelta a Espana stage, Winner Anacona has signed a contract with Movistar. The Colombian hopes to make his Tour de France debut in his first year with the Spanish squad.
Last week, in Pamplona (Spain), the Spanish Movistar Team had its first team gathering for the 2015 season. The roster is made up of the 24 riders who will stay with the team, and the four new: the Australian Rory Sutherland, Spaniards Marc Soler and Rubén Fernández and Colombian Winner Anacona who joins the team after three years at Lampre-Merida.
The gathring ended last Friday and the riders returned to their homes. Anacona travelled back to the city of Tunja in Colombia where he told
www.revistamundociclístico.com about his first impressions of his new team.
"It was a great team gathering, not only for the riders," he said. "All members were there, mechanical staff, assistants, masseurs. During the five days, we created a very good atmosphere.
"Although it is a new team, you feel the same thrill when you meet the team for the first time. Here it was most important to know that I am still at the same level. I left one WorldTour team to join another. It is a good thing and gives me changes to improve with new stimuli and new goals."
"We are all treated in the same way," he said. "In such a long season, we will spend lots of time together so it is importabt to have a family atmosphere like the one we met. We will try to integrate in the best possible way."
Anacona is the third Colombian in the team as he has joined forces with the Quintana brothers Nairo and Dayer.
"It is a pleasure to meet people from the same country in the team. After all, we are humans. It is nice in a team with so many different nationalities, English, German, Spnaish. In my first year at Lampre-Merida, I was the only Colombian. Then we signed Jose Serpa and now we are three Colombians," he said.
Anacona has a good first impression of his new team.
"From the outside, I saw that the team is very well organized and has big targets. Having met the team, I am glad that the concept remains the same."
In 2015, the team will focus on the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana where they will line up with Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde as leaders.
"For my work, I can do any of those races but I would like to go to the Tour de France because I have never doe it before. Apart from that, whether it's the Tour or the Vuelta makes no difference. I am there to support my teammates.
"It is said that riders are fully matured at 32-33 years of age although there are many young riders who do very well. Year by yeanr I have taken another step in Europe. I think I can do better in the time trials and on the climbs. I still have room for improvement and I expect many things from cycling."
Anacona is working hard to improve his TT skills.
"At the moment, I am not focused on any particular issue because right now the focus is to build the condition. To improve my time trialling, I am trying to train that discipline once or twice a week and try to improve my position on the bike because it is very different from my road bike. I do some specific exercises," he said.
Anacona's first big goal could be the National Championships which weill now take place in February as the federation hopes to attract more stars.
"I have already finished second behind (Miguel) Rubiano. If my schedule allows it, ut would be a good thing. We are proud to wear the tricolor anywhere in the world."
"It is a show. To ride in your own country against all those riders who are very good, means that it will not be easy to win."
Anacona's race schedule is still up in the air.
"As a professional, I want to ride all important races," he said. "This year I did the Volta a Catalunya and I liked it. I also liked Tirreno-Adriatico. I would like to do one of those two races. If I go to France, I like the Dauphiné. We will see what next season has to offer."
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