Spanish 'Campionissimo' remains a member of the Blue outfit

Abarca Sports organisation expands commitment to growing cycling discipline by competing at biggest events in the calendar with the likes of Iván García Cortina, Ana Dillana, Hayley Simmonds and no less than ‘Bala’, who will put on his first off-road backnumbers on April 23rd at ‘La Indomable’ in Almería, Spain.

The Movistar Team is adding a new branch to the structure of the longest-standing organisation in road cycling: the Movistar Team Gravel Squad.

Abarca Sports’ presence in this discipline, supported by Telefónica, Canyon, Gobik, ABUS, 226ERS and Fizik amongst many others, will become real this very April with the Blues taking part in two events in Spain: La Indomable, in Almería, on Sunday 23rd; and The Traka, in Girona, Saturday 29th.

For this new offroad project, Movistar Team Gravel Squad will feature members from its road teams as well as its esports group, the Movistar eTeam, which will combine their current activity with gravel events. Four riders will be part of the initiative from its inception: Iván García Cortina, Ana Dillana, Hayley Simmonds and the Telefónica-backed squad’s biggest reference for the last two decades, Alejandro Valverde.

’Bala’ will be putting on his first-ever gravel backnumbers after a legendary road career at La Indomable, where he will be sharing teams with Dillana and Simmonds. The two women will also be competing in Girona, with Cortina at the men’s event.

Spanish brand Gobik has developed for this project an exciting new kit, an evolution from the one used by the Movistar Team road and esports squads. The design honours the adventurous and nonconformist spirit from both the gravel world and the Yecla, Murcia-based company.

Movistar Team Gravel Squad will announce their appearance at additional events in the near future, as well as other names from its teams set to join the roster.