Movistar Team has officially announced the inaugural cohort of its new development initiative, Movistar Team Academy — a squad comprised of 12 young riders aged 17 to 21 (average age: 18) from six countries: Spain (6), Italy (2), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Czech Republic (1), and the United Kingdom (1).
Movistar Team Academy is being launched with the mission of strengthening the foundations of cycling and facilitating young talents’ transition to the highest tiers of the UCI WorldTour. With this initiative, the Navarre-based outfit expands its sporting infrastructure and reaffirms its commitment to becoming a benchmark development model in international cycling.
“We present a highly inspiring group, featuring young riders with tremendous growth potential. Some are already showing impressive progress, and with the rest we will work so they follow the same path, each in their specialty. Our goal is to provide them with an ideal development environment where they feel at home and have the freedom they need to continue growing,” explains Manuel Mateo, Sporting Director of Movistar Team Academy.
Meanwhile, Sebastián Unzué, General Manager of the project, emphasizes, “Confirming this roster of 12 riders for the Movistar Team Academy is a significant step for our structure. We want to offer these young athletes a professional environment where they can grow, learn, and take their first steps toward the top level. This project is born with a long-term vision, focused on supporting their sporting and personal development — always guided by the values that define Movistar Team.”
Roster Movistar Team Academy
🇪🇸 Markel ARANAZ (18) Contract 2026 — from Baqué Movistar Team, with 1 win and 3 podiums in 2025
🇨🇷 Sebastián CASTRO (18) Contract 2026-2027 — from Team General System AWC, Central American junior road champion and 4 wins this year
🇪🇸 Javier CUBILLAS (18) Contract 2026-2027 — from Baqué Movistar Team, standout at the Rwanda World Championships and top-10 in the European Championships, with 2 wins this season
🇮🇹 Daniele FORLIN (17) Contract 2026-2027 — from Nordest Villadose Angelo Gomme, with 6 podiums in 2025
🇨🇴 Jhonatan GUATIBONZA (21) Contract 2026 — from Nu Colombia, Pan-American U23 champion and 5 wins this season
🇪🇸 Eric IGUAL (18) Contract 2026-2027 — from Picusa Academy, 2 wins in 2025
🇬🇧 Lucas JACKSON (18) Contract 2026-2027 — British based in Spain, winner of the Bizkaiko Itzulia and 2 wins this year
🇨🇿 Filip NOVÁK (17) Contract 2026 — from Ciclistica Trevigliese, 1 win and 4 Top-5 finishes in Italy in 2025
🇪🇸 Roger PARETA (19) Contract 2026-2027 — from Finisher–Kern Pharma, with 6 Top-5 finishes this season
🇪🇸 Tomás POMBO (19) Contract 2026-2027 — from Club Ciclista Padronés–Cortizo, with 4 victories in 2025
🇮🇹 Mattia PROIETTI (18) Contract 2026-2027 — from Team Franco Ballerini, achieving 5 wins in the 2025 Italian calendar
🇪🇸 Ibai VILLATE (17) Contract 2026-2027 — Spanish junior time trial runner-up 2025, from Alimco–Campagnolo, with 3 wins this year
With Movistar Team Academy, the blue outfit strengthens its role as a driver of young talent in the international peloton, creating a direct bridge between grassroots and the elite of world cycling.