Xavier Tondo: Joining Movistar a dream come true
Movistar's new signing Xavier Tondo has said he is honoured to be joining a team with the credentials of general manager Eusebio Unzue's outfit.
The team, which between 2007 and 2010 rode under the name Caisse d'Epargne, enjoyed tremendous successes in the Grand Tours during the 1990's.
Under Unzue's management, Spanish rider Miguel Indurain won five consecutive editions of the Tour de France between 1991 and 1995, while Abraham Olano, another of Unzue's riders, triumphed at the 1998 Vuelta a Espana.
"I never imagined that I would have the privilege of riding for Eusebio Unzúe’s team," Tondo told Spanish daily
Marca about his transfer, which was completed shortly before his former outfit, Cervelo TestTeam, announced that it would merge with Garmin-Transitions for 2011. "It’s been my dream since I was a child."
Suffered at the Vuelta and Giro
Tondo, who came second in the 2010 edition of the Volta a Catalunya, finished sixth at this year's Vuelta after suffering a fracture shortly before the race was due to start.
"Three weeks before the Vuelta, I fractured my clavicle, but thanks to riding on the rollers, high hopes and a lot of suffering, I was able to get there in good form," explained Tondo, who came fifth in the penultimate stage of the event.
"Fifth place on the Bola del Mundo stage has shown me that I can manage a three-week race. This gives me great confidence for the future because my goal for 2011 will be to improve on my great sixth place from this year’s Vuelta."
The Spaniard was also hampered at the Giro d'Italia in May, during which a persistent illness prevented him from performing at his best on the ascent up Monte Zoncolan, the toughest climb of the race.
"I got sick and lost a great opportunity to be in the top 10. I was third overall [at one point], but then I caught a cold, which eventually developed into the flu. The day of the Zoncolan stage I had a fever and I lost 25 minutes."
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