Several changes for next year

Iván Velasco, Xabier Muriel to coordinate strengthened group, with several additions for 2024, seeking for greatest wellbeing and maximum level of their athletes

As the Movistar Team’s first 2024 pre-season meeting takes place in Pamplona’s Castillo de Gorraiz, the Telefonica-backed squad have started setting the foundations for the Blues’ 45th season in elite cycling.

Two prestigious experts, already part of the Abarca Sports organisation in previous years, such as Iván Velasco and Xabier Muriel will spearhead a Performance department which will feature the following coaches: Víctor Rodríguez Rielves (specialised in biomechanics), Higinio Fernández -who jumps from the carers group to the sports science side-, Jürgen Roelandts -who will continue playing the DS role for the men’s team-, Leonardo Piepoli and two new members: David Barranco and Alexis Gandía.

The Movistar Team wishes to continue its progression in different fields, such as nutrition, which means that they will now have two full-time specialists, José Carlos Núñez and Miguel Górriz, who will share the whole season of racing with both Blue groups.

At the men’s team, the group of sports directors will be completed, other than Muriel, Velasco, Roelandts and Gandía, by stalwarts of the squad such as Chente García Acosta, Pablo Lastras and Maximilian Sciandri, as well as recently-announced José Joaquín Rojas.

Over at the women’s program, with Sebastián Unzué as manager, Jorge Sanz will continue to be a sports director -as well as ‘coach’ for some members of the group- together with another expert, Tim Harris, former British road race champion and a DS over the last few years for Bahrain Victorious or EF – TIBCO – SVB.