Third signing for the 2024 women's roster
Strong British allrounder - a top-20 overall finisher in both the TDFF and La Vuelta in 2023 - inks three-year deal with Telefónica-backed squad.
The Movistar Team continues to strengthen the core of its women’s program for the next few years, as it confirmed on Wednesday the arrival of Claire Steels (Bourne, GBR; 1986). The British rider, a current member of the Israel – Premier Tech Roland squad, has signed a three-year contract, through to the end of the 2026 season.
Steels’ progression is a massive leap from the world of duathlon and running to the top of the WorldTour, after just four years in UCI squads. Her first three in the scene were already for a Spanish squad, as Claire rode for the Sopela Women’s Team. Combined with several victories in the national peloton, the Brit added valuable international experience and gained authority and skills inside the peloton. A good climber and time trialist, she definitely took those abilities into the spotlight in 2023.
The last few months of Steels -who resides for most of the year in Mallorca- include a victory in the Volta a Catalunya’s women UCI event; an international podium finish (3rd) in the Durango classic; a silver medal in the British Road Race Championships; and strong finishes in the Tour de Suisse (6th) overall, the Trofeo Binda (9th), the UAE Tour (11th) or even two top-20 overall results -fifteenth and eighteenth, respectively- in two Grand Tours: La Vuelta and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
REACTION / Claire Steels:
“It’s been definitely quite an unexpected journey, but really, really enjoyable and exhilarating. I’ve always focused on just trying to be the best athlete I can be; that’s always been my drive and my motivation, whatever that’s meant at different stages of my life and disciplines across my sporting journey. But racing as a professional cyclist, let alone for one of the biggest WorldTour teams, is really a ‘pinch me’ moment for me. I’ve always admired the Movistar Team from afar, their professional approach and their attacking style. To be in this position is just a dream.
“I do hope I’ve still got quite a lot to offer. I feel like my cycling journey has only, really just begun, and I’m sure that, surrounded by experienced staff and riders, I can continue to develop all areas of myself as an athlete and racer. I’m especially looking forward to refining my skills to become more consistent and reliable GC contender, and first and foremost, get myself into the team dynamics, support my team-mates on and off the bike, improve also those team skills.”