Are INEOS about to unleash the next Paul Seixas? - Double world champion Benjamin Noval announces himself in Montreal
CyclingFriday, 25 September 2026 at 21:30
Netcompany INEOS management would have watched the junior men's time trial and road races at this week's World Championships with intrigue. And if the results are anything to go by, the team have a new sensation on their hands in Benjamin Noval Jr.
The Spanish rider won both the time trial and road race in dominant fashion, appearing head and shoulders above all riders in the junior ranks. His double rainbow jersey win sees him the first to win both events at the same championships since Remco Evenepoel did so and announced himself as cycling's next big thing in 2018.
The MMR Academy rider, still just 17-years-old, will leap right to WorldTour level in 2027 as he turns professional with the British team. However, the move initially raised eyebrows after the team made the announcement in June 2025 during just his first year at junior level.
“Benjamín has all the hallmarks of a rider who can develop into something very special. He’s intelligent on the bike and driven off it, and he has already shown a real edge in competitive environments," INEOS sports director Scott Drawer said at the time.
Benjamin Noval Jr
INEOS strike gold with double world champion
"We’re excited to support his transition to the WorldTour and look forward to helping him fulfil his potential within our performance system.”
15 months after the announcement, INEOS's bold show of confidence seems very much well-founded following his sensational performances this season and in Montreal.
As well as comparisons with Evenepoel's double gold, Noval's rise could be compared to that of Paul Seixas - the Decathlon CMA CGM rider in his second year as a professional finished fourth at the Tour de France and has already won multiple WorldTour level races.
Can Noval follow in Paul Seixas's footsteps?
Seixas' meteoric rise has proved that some riders can hit the ground running straight from the junior ranks, and as cycling's arms race sees many teams searching for a rider to compete with the dominance of Tadej Pogacar, INEOS may well have found their next sensation.
Speaking after his road race gold medal, Noval said: "It means a lot. I think I've been working on it for a long time and I knew it was possible today. I wasn't so confident at the time, but today I think I had confidence, I knew I could do it. Once I saw that it was time to attack and go for the race, I decided to go for it."
With a strong time trial and clear abilities in both rolling and mountain terrain, it remains to be seen how the Spanish rider will develop, but one thing's for sure, INEOS have a serious talent on their hands.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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