Seventh men's signing for 2024

Basque inks two-year contract with Telefónica-backed outfit, set to increase quota of Spanish young talent within Blues after solid 2023 season.

The Movistar Team continues to show its commitment with the best Spanish young talent as it announces Friday the addition of Jon Barrenetxea (Gamiz-Fika, Bizkaia, ESP; 2000) to its men’s roster next year.

The Basque rider, joining from team Caja Rural – Seguros RGA, has signed a two-year contract (2024-25) with the Abarca Sports organisation, which thus incorporates a fourth Spanish name to its lineup after Carlos Canal, Pelayo Sánchez and Javier Romo.

A tall (almost 1.90m), strong allrounder, ‘JonBa’ has shown over the 2023 season the abilities which helped him take the leap towards the pro category three years ago. Winner of the KOM jersey in the Itzulia Basque Country -which he almost entirely spent into the break-, 3rd in the Boucles de l’Aulne and solid at international stageraces like the Boucles de la Mayenne or the Volta ao Alentejo, he came 8th at the demanding Spanish Nationals in Madrid and shone at several breakaways in La Vuelta -5th atop Caravaca de la Cruz-. His good season overall earned him a cap with the Spanish national team for the European Championships in Drenthe (NED).

REACTION / Jon Barrenetxea:

“It makes me proud to be joining the Movistar Team, and it’s also a source of huge responsibility for me. I want to thank Caja Rural for the confidence they showed by taking me into the pro scene – I enjoyed bike racing so much over the last three years, and learned a lot by their side. This 2023 season helped me really believe in my abilities and trust my chances of having a long career, which is never easy to realize and make happen when you become a pro. I was able to show my quality, and my ambition for the future is to keep growing as a rider, seek for my best self and learn from all team-mates, some of the best in the world.”