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Cataldo and Villella join Movistar from Astana

By Cycling News

published 14 August 2019

Experienced Italians riders bolster Spanish squad after leadership overhaul

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Dario Cataldo celebrates his stage 15 win at the giro d'Italia(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Davide Villella (Astana) leads the escape (Image credit: Getty Images)

Movistar team boss Eusebio Unzue during the press conference(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Dario Cataldo (Astana) in the mountains jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Davide Villella in the mountains jersey after stage 14 of the Vuelta a España(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Movistar have announced the signing of experienced and trusted duo Dario Cataldo and Davide Villella from Astana. The Italian riders have agreed two-year contracts that will keep them at Movistar until the end of the 2021 season.

Villella wins Piccolo Lombardia solo

Two-year extension at Astana for Dario Cataldo

Giro d'Italia: Cataldo wins stage 15 from breakaway

Movistar name Enric Mas as new Grand Tour leader for 2020

Nairo Quintana: I want a team that can support me 100 per cent

34-year-old Cataldo won the Baby Giro in 2006 and seemed destined to be one of the best Italian stage racers of his generation. Instead, after spells at Liquigas, QuickStep, Team Sky and Astana, he has largely sacrificed his own chances of success to help his team leaders, becoming a key Grand Tour domestique and occasional winner.

A strong climber, the Lanciano native won a stage of the 2012 Vuelta a España atop Cuitu Negro and he out-sprinted Mattia Cattaneo to claim victory in Como on this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Villella turned professional in 2014 with Cannondale after winning the prestigious Giro della Valle d’Aosta as an under-23 rider. He won the Japan Cup in 2016 and the mountains classification at the following year’s Vuelta a España before moving to Astana in 2018.

Cataldo and Villella arrive at Movistar as part of an overhaul of the Spanish team’s roster. It has already been confirmed that Mikel Landa will leave for Bahrain-Merida in 2020, while Nairo Quintana is expected to move to Arkea-Samsic and Giro champion Richard Carapaz is slated to join Team Ineos. Manager Eusebio Unzue has already confirmed their departures from the team.

World champion Alejandro Valverde will remain at Movistar in 2020, while Enric Mas has been signed from Deceuninck-QuickStep to serve as a team leader in Grand Tours.