Cycling fans hit the jackpot with Movistar’s surprise pick Aular in their fantasy team this Giro: "I had the legs to win”

Aular, who remained a ProContinental rider until the end of 2024, spent years fighting for top 10 finishes with Caja Rural. Since joining the team in 2020, he had already shown promise in races like the Saudi Tour, Belgrade Banjaluka, Coppi e Bartali, Ruta del Sol, and La Route d'Occitanie. By 2022, his calendar included bigger races such as the Tour of the Basque Country, Vuelta a España, Tour of Valencia, Volta a Catalunya, and now, the Giro d’Italia.

Aular has 10 career victories so far, though six of those were national titles. In 2023, he claimed both a stage win and overall victory at the CRO Race, and last season he won the Trofeo Matteotti and Stage 1 of the Tour du Limousin–Périgord. Movistar recognized his potential as a sprinter and puncher and offered him a two-year contract. At the Giro, he has already delivered with two third-place finishes (on Stage 1 and Stage 3). “And I had the legs to win on Sunday, but I shifted gears wrong,” Aular told Marca.

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Nevertheless, the opening weekend of the Giro must have felt encouraging for Aular, who, at 28, may seem experienced but is still a rookie in the WorldTour. “I had a good altitude training camp with the team and I’m in good shape. Originally, we were planning to do more classics in the spring, but in Oman (where Aular sprinted to third once, ed.), the team told me I could be an option for the Giro. When Fernando Gaviria got injured, I was selected.”

And this is a golden opportunity for Aular, who is eager to throw himself into the mix with the other fast men. The fact that he can handle a climb is a helpful asset in this race. “There are some great opportunities for me this year, and the team is backing me. The gear issues I had on stage 3 left a bitter taste in my mouth. But that problem has been fixed. Tuesday is a pure sprint, and if I feel good and I’m well-positioned, I’m going for it, just like I did in the Vuelta in 2023.”

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Aular won’t be the only source of fireworks from Movistar at this year’s Giro. The Spanish team also brings a strong lineup of climbers, including Nairo Quintana, Jefferson Cepeda, Davide Formolo, and part-GC contender Einer Rubio. Albert Torres, Jon Barrenetxea, and Lorenzo Milesi are also expected to play their part. “I’m going for stage wins, and Einer is hoping to go for a good GC,” Quintana told AS when asked.

“We’re going to go to war and take advantage of the fact that winning the Giro isn’t our main goal,” the experienced Colombian added.