Mauricio Soler (Movistar) in preparation for the Tour de San Luis.(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Bianchi is the bicycle sponsor for Androni-Giocattoli(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Gianni Savio and his Androni Giocattoli boys(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Ivan Basso in Argentina(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Ivan Basso walks on stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Liquigas-Cannondale team led by Ivan Basso(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The team presentation wraps up with a confetti shower(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
There were crowds aplenty for the team presentation(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Liquigas-Cannondale team(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Confetti explodes over the home team from Argentina(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The team from Bolivia(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Charly Wegelius lines up for his first race with UnitedHealthcare(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The De Rosa - Flaminia team(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Xavier Tondo (Movistar) checking his cell phone(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Riders of Team Colombia(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The team from Colombia(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
D'Angelo & Antenucci team(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The Endura team(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The Movistar team lines up for the Tour de San Luis(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Xavier Tondo(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The team from Chile(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Brazil lined up a team for Tour de San Luis(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The Bolivian national team(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The Argentinean national team(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Androni Giocattoli starts its season in Argentina(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
The Andalucia Cajasur team(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
AG2R La Mondiale(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Ivan Basso is the Tour de San Luis' biggest star(Image credit: Luis Enrique Barbosa)
Mauricio Soler’s (Movistar) notable climbing prowess makes him a likely candidate to win the overall title at the Tour de San Luis held from January 17-23 in San Luis, Argentina. The Colombian is confident in his ability to win the queen stage six that boasts two significant ascents through the Andres Mountain Range.
“To win this race would be very good for me and for the team,” Soler said. “I don’t know if I have the condition to win it yet. It could be complicated because of the strong winds here but there are a few stages in the mountains and that suits me. Overall, I think this terrain is good for my team.”
Soler is confident that his six-man team is capable of strong overall performances. The squad will start former stage winner Xavier Tondo, Carlos Oyarzun, Javier Iriarte, Pablo Lastras and Francisco Perez. Liquigas-Cannondale will be a likely threat to secure the overall title having won the event last year with Vincenzo Nibali. This year’s team includes two-time Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso. Androni-Giocattoli also has a serious contender in climber José Serpa, who placed second to Nibali last year.
“If I look at all the teams here I think Liquigas is also strong,” Soler said. “Especially with a rider like Ivan Basso.”
The Tour de San Luis will touch the Andes’ foothills on the second stage that finishes atop a five kilometre ascent in Mirador Del Potrero. The true climbing will begin on stage five with a mountaintop finish on the Mirador Del Sol. Stage six will play a major factor in the overall classification with two decisive climbs. The first ascent will take the peloton over Alto de Nogoli at the mid-point of the race and finish on the lengthy and steep climb to La Carolina.
“I know that stage six will be very difficult,” Soler said. “It will be a place for attacks and for the race to open up. If I can stay in the front group and at the front then I think that is the most important thing. I think this will be the stage that suits me the best but I have to wait and see what my condition is like. So far this year I haven’t done many kilometres but I hope that my form is still going to be good.”
Soler believes that the Tour de San Luis is a prime event to start the season because of its warm climate and mountainous terrain. He will use the seven-stage event as an important step of his preparation for the Tour de France in July, where he won the king of the mountains classification in 2007. This year he hopes to trade in the polka-dots for the yellow jersey.
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“I want to have a good race here and prepare for the European calendar,” Soler said. “I think this is a very good race for preparation. I want to arrive to the Tour de France in very good condition. In order to prepare, I will compete in a lot of mountain stage races like this. Winning the climber’s jersey at the Tour de France was important but I would like to win the overall. The best opportunity and fortune would be to win the overall. But it is always good to be able to win any jersey.”
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
