David Arroyo, the rider who finished a surprising second overall in the 2010 Giro d’Italia and rode solidly there this season, will concentrate in 2012 on building top form for the Tour de France. He is provisionally set to miss the Italian race, instead being part of the team’s big push for the Tour with Alejandro Valverde.
Arroyo’s provisional race programme for the coming season has been announced, and it shows a steady buildup towards July.
His year will begin on January 23rd when he begins the seven-day Tour de San Luis in Argentina, then he will be part of a five day training camp in Majorca from February 5th. The next events on his schedule are the Vuelta Andalucía, Paris-Nice, Critérium International and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
His pre-Tour preparation consists of the Critérium du Dauphiné, which runs from June 3rd until 10th.
If Valverde can return to top form after his long suspension, he will be the likely leader of the team in the Tour, with Arroyo being a top support rider and potential Plan B for the team.
He jumped to prominence in the 2010 Giro when he infiltrated a long breakaway on stage 11, gaining over thirteen minutes on the race favourites, and then took over the race lead three days later on the stage to Monte Grappa. He held the Maglia Rosa for several days, although eventually lost it to the race winner Ivan Basso on stage 19 to Aprica, just two days before the finish.
Arroyo ended the Grand Tour one minute 51 seconds back overall, having ridden strongly in his fight for a podium position.
This season he placed a solid 14th overall and was sixth on the stage to Mount Etna. Despite the fatigue of riding the two events, he took 36th in the Tour de France and was also eleventh in the Vuelta a Burgos. His hope will be that in focussing completely in the Tour, that he can improve on his 2011 showing.
His Movistar team will appoint a different leader for next year’s Giro. One of those who could be asked to build towards the Italian event is national champion Giovanni Visconti, who rode strongly on several stages this season. He has transferred across to Movistar from Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli.