FROM CUBA TO THE WORLD. Arlenis Sierra has had bikes around her since she was a child. At her hometown, Manzanillo, she took up racing at 9 years of age, soon shining on youth level and becoming natinoal champion, and Worlds medalist, as a U17 and junior, both on the road and the track, where she took important steps in her progression. Over the wood of the velodrome, she built a strong career until 2016, from which she went on, with support from Alco Piccolo’s Astana / AR Monex squad, to succeed also on the road in Europe.
WINS EVERYWHERE. Other than victories in the tours of Costa Rica (2016, 17) and Bretagne (2016) before moving to Italy, Sierra has wins in almost all continents -more than 40 elite victories-. The Tour of Guangxi (2018), the Cadel Evans Road Race (2019), a stage of the now-defunct Tour of California (2018), two wins in the Pan American Games + three in the Continental Championships, stage wins in the Tour de San Luis, two Giro della Toscana GCs, a stage of the Herald Sun Tour (2020)… Her experience and outstanding performances in so many different scenarios, combined with her top speed and adaptability to so many terrains, make her shine as one of the Movistar Team’s references for 2022.
IN HER BEST MOMENT. Her 2021 season has been just as consistent as the last few years since she started racing in Europe, yet her results have been arguably the most resounding in the international scene. No less than six wins were obtained by the Granma native, including the second of the Navarra Classics -into a final move against Ruth Winder and now-teammate Annemiek van Vleuten-; two stages + the GC of the Giro della Toscana; the inaugural stage of the Tour de l’Ardèche -ahead of Sheyla Gutiérrez- and the Tre Valli Varesine, in front of García and Neylan. The biggest result, however, was her Worlds: she took 5th place, racing with no team against strong squads, and getting through the final selection of a fast-paced, demanding race. All of that, despite an injury in the Giro due to a crash + being hit by a car in March -fortunately, both of them with no big consequence-.
2017-21: Astana / AR Monex