Women's team

35-year-old Australian -a vice World RR champion in Valkenburg 2012- to help the Blues' youngest riders with her invaluable skills.

Following Monday’s confirmation of eight riders signing contracts with the Movistar Team’s first ever women’s roster, the squad managed by Eusebio Unzué now announces Rachel Neylan (Sydney, AUS; 1982) as their latest addition for 2018.

With only ten years in cycling after previous experiences in athletics, triathlon and rowing, as well as a degree in physiotherapy in her home Australia, Neylan nevertheless holds plenty of experience in the pro peloton after making part of some of the best squads in the World (Diadora, Hitec or her latest contract with Orica, from the 2015 season to this date).

A silver medalist in the Valkenburg World Champs road race (2012) and a big protagonist into the breakaway at the Ponferrada race (2014), Neylan has prestigious wins to her account with the GP Plumelec (2016), the Cadel Evans Road Race (2015) and the Trophée d’Or GC in 2015. As well as her four Worlds appearances, Rachel has also been an Olympian in Rio 2016 (22nd).

Neylan says: “The opportunity to begin a new journey with Movistar supports my curiosity to embrace new challenges, and be the best athlete I can be moving forward. The Movistar Team has a sound philosophy to develop young riders, a role where I can give back, share my experience mentoring young women is a pivotal part of being an athlete and incredibly rewarding. I’m so happy to join the Movistar Team for 2018 and looking forward to pouring my passion and enthusiasm into a new and exciting project!”