Cycling: Spain is a cycling nation. After the end of Alberto Contador's career and Alejandro Valverde, who will probably soon be resigning, things are becoming quiet about the heroes of the country road. Almost an entire generation seems to be missing. In addition to Mikel Landa and Mikel Nieve, there is another strong climber from Spain: Marc Soler drives for the Team Movistar and will – for lack of alternatives – soon become the focus of his compatriots. In our section 5 to watch we want to put the 24-year-old in the limelight right now. Why? Because we can. Or rather, because he can. Marc Soler is already a real candidate for top results - if he's allowed to ...
The shadows are huge - but so is his talent
In Spain, enthusiasm for cycling is huge. Similar to Italy - where there was no WorldTour team for the first time in 2017 - the sport is also in a crisis here. Ironically, the Spaniards themselves hardly seem to notice. No wonder, because with Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa you still had three drivers with whom it was possible to share the excitement. But now Contador is gone and Valverde is 38. Of the three great tenors, only Landa would remain if it weren't for the young Marc Soler. This seems to be almost the only one of an almost completely missing generation. Accordingly, the burden on his shoulders will be heavy, for the shadows of his predecessors are huge. Following in the footsteps of Valverde or Contador is an almost impossible task. But Marc Soler definitely has the talent to be an excellent racing driver.
| Name | Marc Soler | |
| Birthdays | 22 November 1993 | |
| Place of Birth | Canyelles | |
| Nationality | Spain | |
| Size | 186 cm | |
| Weight | 68 kg | |
| Current team | Movistar | |
| specialization | Classification driver, climber | |
| Active as an amateur | since 2012 | |
| Active as a professional | since 2015 | |
| previous teams | 2012-2014: Lizard since 2015: Movistar |
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| Greatest successes | #1 Tour de l'Avenir 2015 #2 South Route 2016 #3 Volta a Catalunya 2017 #8 Tour de Suisse 2017 |
Top results at a young age
Marc Soler first came to prominence in 2015 when he finished fourth in a stage of the Volta a Catalunya. In the same year he won the Tour de l'Avenir and thus announced ambitious claims. In 2016 Marc Soler finished the Route du Sud at #2 and in 2017 the Volta a Catalunya at #3. It is quite remarkable that the young professional in the Movistar team can already show so many top results. After all, Soler is usually only on the road as a helper and is hardly allowed to drive on his own account. Movistar recognized his talent very early on when he was signed by the Lizarte amateur team. Since then he has competed in several one-week tours and at the end of last season he had his first Grand Tour with the Vuelta a Espana. There he stood out as a strong helper as usual. On stage #5 he snuck into a leading group and finished third in stage.
Valverde, Quintana & Landa - and Marc Soler
Marc Soler is already one of the strongest Spanish climbers in the field. Unfortunately, he is not allowed to show this quite so obviously. When the 24-year-old is at the start, he usually only acts as a helper. After all, living legends Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana are ahead of him – and, as of this season, compatriot Mikel Landa. In 2018 Marc Soler will therefore still have to wait in the second row and provide help. Still, it will be exciting to watch him on his way to becoming a leader. There's no question that in a few years he'll be recruiting helpers himself to help him win big. Life is not easy at the bottom. Let's see what Marc Soler will offer us this season.
Cover image source: © Silvia Domínguez / Movistar Team