Winner Anacona is one of four reinforcements at the Movistar Team for next season. In 2014, he took another step forward. The Colombian rider won the stage to Aramón Valdelinares in the Vuelta a Espana. Now he hopes to continue his progression and work for Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde.
After three years at Lampre-Merida, Winner Anacona beleives that the move to Movistar Team "is a nice change in my career that will allow me to keep growing. Right now it is the best team in the world and it motivates me to do things right. Eusebio Unzue's team has such a long history, from Reynolds to Movistar. I knew the Banesto team, I thought it was the first sponsor but I have learned that Reynolds was even earlier. I remember Indurain."
In the Movistar Team, he will join compariot Nairo Quintana.
"It's nice to be surrounded by good riders and it is even better when he is a compatriot. Nairo is one of the best cyclists in the world. We are from the same city, we have known each other from many years ago, and sometimes we train together.Now we ride together for the first time. I hope to help him getting results and achieve my own results too," he tells Biciclismo.
His friendship with Quintana started many years ago when they competed at local and national level, although in different categories. "I started in cycling very young, when I went ot school. I'm two years older than him and so we rode at different levels. I remember he did very well in some races as I did in my category. Then we started to meet and I have known Nairo for around eight years. We have always gotten along and now even more since we're both in Europe and now share the same team," he explains.
They might even be neighbors: "I have lived in Italy for six years, first as an amateur and then as a professional. Now I am considering with the team to move to Pamplona."
Anacona was unable to show the true extent of his talent until this year when he raised his arms in Aramón Valdelinares on the ninth stage of the Vuelta a Espana. "This year, my third at the pro level, allowed me to race more than I have done before. In the first year (40 days of competition) I had problems with my paperwork and I started late last year (42 days of competition) due to injury. The success in the Vuelta was my first professional win so I had great emotions. I am full of positive energy and it gives me moral to go for more wins and make things right to improves," he says.
His memories of the win are unforgettable: "Things come when they have to. That day I felt great during the whole stage. My initial goal was to fight for the GC at the Vuelta and try to be in the top ten. However, on the previous day I lost time in the echelons. I lost morale and that day I was furious but my idea was to attack on the last climb. Sometimes you want to be in the break but fail to be there. That day I did not look to go in the break but I managed to escape. The sensations were very good and I wanted to take advantage. After a year with injury, this victory is a pleasure and shows that I can improve," he recalls.
Anacona does not lose any sleep due to the fact that he misssed the red jersey by just 9 seconds."It would have been sensational, but we cannot be greedy and win everything in life. Now it will be an anecdote. But who knows in the future, I will try to make that next step."
Anacona is seen as a stage race rider. "In my three years as a professional I have always done the Vuelta a Espana and this year I did the Giro and the Vuelta. The Giro didn't go as expected but, yes, I am a rider for the grand tours. Now I am reaching my full maturity and I hope to take advantage of that in the Movistar Team. Next year I want to help Valverde or Quintana and if I am given a chance to go for a stage victory, it would be very good," he says.
Anacona knows what his role in the team will be. "I have ambitions, but it is clear that the interests of the teams are the Grand Tours and the leaders are Valverde and Quintana. They have shown what they can do. I will work for them with pleasure. My ambition is to achieve a victory, if not in a grand tour, then in a one-week or one-day race. I must seize the opportunities and demonstrate what I can do," he says.
"There are many races that I do not know. I enjoyed the Giro and I lovethe Vuelta. I have not had the chance to do the Tour and I would like to do it. And demanding races like Catalunya, Romandie. San Sebastián, Lombardy,..." he says.
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