Alpecin - Premier Tech reveal market moves into 2027 - Belgian team signs leaders of Movistar, EF and Picnic
CyclingSaturday, 01 August 2026 at 11:11
Alpecin - Premier Tech is the first World Tour team to announce a streak of signings towards the 2027 season. The Belgian structure has revealed three high-level moves as they bring in the likes of Iván García Cortina, Madis Mihkels and Casper van Uden.
Ivan García Cortina provides Spanish colour to Alpecin
Alpecin is at heart a classics team, with a lot of focus on the sprints and also cyclocross outside of the summer. Hence, the signing of Ivan García Cortina may come as a surprise only because of his nationality. The Movistar-Alpecin move is one that not many expected, although like both others, it had previously been rumoured already.
"I'm incredibly grateful for everything I experience during six years with Movistar Team. Those memories will always stay with me. But now it's time for a new challenge," the 30-year old said in an Instagram post shared by the team.
"I didn't want to finish my career without trying to be part of one of the best teams in the world and compete at the highest level in the races I enjoy the most: the Spring Classics".
He will have a support role in both classics and sprints, however his own palmarès includes several strong results which backs up his own personal ambitions.
Spaniard Iván García Cortina is joining Alpecin - Premier Tech
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Two new sprinters to replace Kaden Groves
With Kaden Groves set to leave the Belgian team towards Tudor, the team has also looked to replace him and find new men to lead the team's vast sprinter block. Two men have been found and agreed upon.
One is Casper van Uden, 25 years old and a former sprint stage winner at the Giro d'Italia back in 2025. This year, the Dutchman has one win at the Tour of Turkey, Team Picnic PostNL's only professional win of the year thus far.
"I'm really excited to be joining this great team. I think it's the perfect environment to take the next step in my career and become a more consistent sprinter. The team has built a real sprint culture over the years, and I'm sure that will help me continue to grow as a rider".
The second sprinter to join Alpecin's ranks is Madis Mihkels, the Estonian sprinter currently races for EF Education-EasyPost and has finished on the Top5 of Giro sprint stages on three occasions this spring, showing quality and consistency at a high level.
At Alpecin he will continue to have occasional leadership when it comes to the sprints, but further room to develop.
"I decided to join Alpecin - Premier Tech because I believe it's the best place to take the next step in my career," he explained. "I've dreamed of riding for one of the world's strongest classics and sprint teams for almost my entire life, and now that dream has come true. My goal is to win races myself and help the team achieve great things".
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Rafionain-Glas01-08-2026 - García Cortina: "I didn't want to finish my career without trying to be part of one of the best teams in the world" Unzuè: 😠 😡 👿Rafionain-Glas01-08-2026
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