Fernando Gaviria in winning form at last year's Giro. He's now a team mate of Dan Martin's at UAE Team Emirates. It's a team starting to look a bit top heavy with stars who will expect Grand Tour support.
Fernando Gaviria will mop up UAE Emirates resources at Tour de France
Already boasting two Grand Tour team leaders, UAE Team Emirates has now signed sprinter Fernando Gaviria.
The young Colombian’s signing has been confirmed, as expected. And he will get to know his new team mates in coming days at a team get together.
It means Irish rider Dan Martin is now in a team that includes fellow Grand Tour contender Fabio Aru and Gaviria.
The latter has departed QuickStep one year before his contract was due to expire.
His presence in his new team represents a big money transfer for UAE Team Emirates. And that means the pressure will be on to win Tour de France stages.
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The team will now very likely approach next year’s Tour with two goals; riding for general classification and to lead-out Gaviria in the sprints.
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It’s hard to see how that scenario would not diminish the team support around Dan Martin.
While Alexander Kristoff rode the Tour this year in the same team as Dan Martin, his lead-out needs are not comparable to Gaviria’s.
The Colombian is much younger and faster and will be tipped to win several stages in any Grand Tour he rides.
And that will mean at the Tour considerable lead-out resources will likely be provided for him.
That would very likely weaken the team’s GC aspirations with Martin and Aru.
Though Dan Martin has often excelled without much support, he joined UAE Team Emirates to change that.
Specifically he was looking for support during the Tour. And Gaviria’s arrival, on a three-year deal, does seem to undermine Martin’s position.
However, Martin was not troubled this year by Aru’s presence in the team. And hopefully Gaviria’s signing will not disadvantage him too much.
“I change team after having always raced in the same group, which has given me the possibility to make the next jump to the highest level,” Gaviria said.
“With the new jersey, I’m not going to hide my desires and I want the biggest wins. I’m happy to be able to race with my countrymen Henao, Muñoz and Molano."
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