The conundrum of Momparler’s national team for the World Cup: nobody wants to go

The national cycling team Pascual Momparler is very difficult to find enough runners to put together a competitive selection for cycling world championships which is disputed in Wollongong (Australia) from September 18 to 25. There were three options raised at the last meeting that took place within the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) before the difficulties of the national selector. The first, and the most radical, is not going to the World Championship because there are no guarantees of being able to compete face to face with the best. The second is to call the cyclists who, for the coach, have more options to compete for medals, although this means that if they refuse to attend they will receive the corresponding penalty, and the third is to go with really like. who went to the World Cup and their teams allowed them.

And in the end, “we chose this last option, we will go to the World Cup with the runners we have and we will try to do our best”, said the national coach, resigned, who met with the rejection of many runners and especially that many teams let their stars compete for the World Championship, to the point that Momparler almost had to find them from under the rocks.

The reason for the rejection of the teams can be seen in the placement of the World Cup calendar and the delicate situation that some formations are going through, such as Movistar, who are forced to go hunting and getting points to try to stay in the highest international division of cycling and not lose the category world tour the next campaign. The World Cup will be held from September 18 to 25 and has a handicap running in Australia, making things difficult.

This situation left Momparler with one hand in front and the other behind, and it hurt his soul. “The situation of confrontation is sad, to me, of the federation, with the teams and the cyclists, who in the end are in the middle. A situation that neither we nor the teams created and we are now paying for. I am sad, I am hurt that the fans will not see a World Cup with the best numbers from their country fighting for gold or a podium; but there are other countries in the same situation and I don’t want a decaffeinated World Cup”.

Youth leadership is safe Juan Ayuso (19) and Marc Soler (23)in a year where the two are fine, that he can’t be with Alexander Valverde. ‘the bullet’ (world champion in 2019 and the rider with the most podiums in the history of the World Championships (7)) expressed his desire at the beginning of the season to say goodbye to cycling in Australia, in what would be the best scenario for a Farewell, but now can’t. Momparler pointed out to MD that Movistar wouldn’t let him – he added that too Jesus Herrada he squeezed as hard as he could Cofidis to give him permission-–and he felt bad: “It would have been great if Alejandro was in his last World Cup. That I can teach within the race Charles (Rodriguez) –Its presence is also not clear, because it does not have an OK Ineos– like John Ayuso to lead this Spanish team, which is what they need to do as soon as possible, they will stay with them for life, because in the end Alejandro is a cycling legend and taking the baton of a legend in a World Cup should be one something important”.

Having seen what has been seen, “I am working with a team led by Fix it Y commonly doneand based on them I am looking to make the best team, with young people, who have desire, enthusiasm, and will give their lives so that these two great cyclists will shine in the World Cup”.

Momparler will probably wait until the last minute before giving the list to International Cycling Union (UCI) Hopefully something new. He has until September 10 to submit a list of eight starters and four reserves and from these twelve the final selection for Australia will emerge. At stake, the medals and try to take the baton Alejandro Valverde.