€1 million a year and a renewal until 2031 - INEOS close to securing 'historic' contract with Junior World Champion
Cycling
Benjamín Noval is close to signing a historic contract with Netcompany INEOS ahead of his WorldTour debut in 2027. The 18-year-old Spaniard is understood to have agreed a deal extending his commitment to the British team until the end of 2031, two seasons longer than originally planned.
According to Spanish newspaper MARCA, the new deal includes unprecedented financial terms for a rider of his age. The agreement reflects the British squad’s commitment to one of Spanish cycling’s brightest prospects, whose value has soared after an outstanding junior season.
The news follows a year in which Noval claimed the junior time trial and road race world titles in Montreal, before adding the European junior time trial title to his palmarès. His performances have strengthened the team’s belief in his potential and accelerated negotiations to secure his long-term future.
The original agreement was announced in the summer of 2025, when the Asturian was just 16. With his move into the professional ranks drawing closer, Netcompany INEOS now intends to substantially improve a contract reportedly worth around one million euros over three seasons.
A historic contract to secure its leading prospect
Regional broadcaster RTPA reported that Noval had agreed to extend his initial contract, which ran until 2029, by two years. Under the announced terms, the Spaniard would remain with the British team for five seasons, from 2027 through 2031.
MARCA later added that the deal was expected to be signed this week, describing its financial terms as “the biggest contract in history for a cyclist of his age”. His representative, Giuseppe Acquadro, is understood to have negotiated a substantial improvement on the terms agreed in the summer of 2025.
His double world title in Montreal has been one of the main reasons for the young rider’s soaring value. Noval became the first male junior since Remco Evenepoel in 2018 to win both the time trial and road race world titles in the same year. He later added European time trial gold, capping an exceptional season.
Netcompany INEOS moved ahead of other potential suitors when it announced his signing in June 2025. Now, even before he has raced professionally for the British team, the squad has strengthened its commitment to ensure his progress does not jeopardize the future of a talent it considers central to its plans.
Noval unfazed by pressure ahead of WorldTour step-up
The contract extension comes as the Asturian has begun speaking about the expectations surrounding his arrival at the top level. Already dubbed INEOS' “million-euro cyclist”, Noval says comparisons and media attention will not affect his approach to the challenge. “What other people think doesn’t affect me at all. I know what I have to do, and I’m completely relaxed,” he told MARCA.
His priority in 2027 will be to adapt to the demands of the highest level and gradually earn a place within the team. The Spaniard understands that his first responsibility will be to work for the leaders, but he also hopes to become an important part of the squad as he gains experience and opportunities.
Noval says his biggest concern is not criticism or financial expectations, but the physical demands of professional cycling. “What worries me most is the level of competition and how I’ll feel on the climbs after five hours on the bike,” he explained. He added that pressure and criticism, by contrast, motivate him.
Meanwhile, the rider has already started getting to know his new team, spending three days with the squad in Denmark. Netcompany INEOS plans to ease him into the environment gradually, without placing excessive responsibility on him from the outset. However, the British team has not ruled out accelerating his development if his results and progress justify a more ambitious approach.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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