Bright UAE talent snatched up by Movistar in major move - "It is a team with an enormous history in cycling"
Cycling
Movistar Team continues to look to the future and has confirmed the signing of Mateo Ramírez, an Ecuadorian rider. Now 20, the climber will join the Spanish team through 2029 from UAE Team Emirates Gen Z, having completed two seasons that confirmed his immense potential on the under-23 calendar.
Ramírez joins the Spanish team as one of the most promising young climbers of his generation. His progress became clear during his first years as a junior, when he already achieved significant results at national and international level. In 2023, he became Ecuadorian champion in both the road race and time trial. In 2024, he successfully defended his national road title and added victory in the time trial at the Bolivarian Youth Games.
His move into the under-23 category did not slow his progress. In 2025, Ramírez finished second at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, one of the key races for young climbers, and placed sixth overall at the Tour de l'Avenir. Those results established him among the riders to watch in his generation.
The 2026 season brought another step forward. His campaign began with a wrist fracture, but the Ecuadorian returned to competition in June and quickly showed that the injury had not halted his development. At the Giro d'Italia Next Gen, he finished second overall, confirming himself as one of the race's leading protagonists.
Movistar sign Mateo Ramirez
His performances did not stop there. Ramírez again finished second at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, this time adding a stage victory to his overall result. His outstanding under-23 season concluded with another prestigious result at the Tour de l'Avenir, where he secured third place overall.
The consistency he has shown in the category's leading stage races has been one of Ramírez' main credentials for making the leap to the highest level. His results in Italy and France, combined with his ability to perform in the mountains, have convinced Movistar Team that he can become an important rider for the future of the organization.
Ramírez himself expressed his excitement about joining the Spanish team and beginning his WorldTour career with one of the historic names in international cycling.
“I am very happy and excited to begin my career in the WorldTour with Movistar. It is a team with an enormous history in cycling, and I believe it suits me very well. I feel I will be able to continue growing, develop as a rider and gain experience,” the Ecuadorian explained.
Movistar Team's new signing also understands that moving into the top tier marks the beginning of a new stage in his development. “I am highly motivated for next year and want to produce my best level, keep improving every day and make the most of this opportunity to achieve the goals we have set,” he added.
The team's management also highlighted his room for growth. Sebastián Unzué believes Ramírez has the qualities required to continue progressing over the coming years, with the priority being to support him throughout that process.
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Mateo Ramírez' talent
“Mateo is a very talented rider with considerable room for improvement. Our goal is to support him at every stage of his development so that he can reach the highest level in the coming years. We are very excited about his arrival and eager to start working together. Welcome, Mateo,” Unzué said.
With this move, Movistar Team adds a 20-year-old climber who has already shown that he can challenge for top positions in some of the most important under-23 races on the calendar. Ramírez now faces the biggest challenge of his still young career: adapting to the WorldTour and continuing a progression that, so far, has only gone from strength to strength.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- You make a statement like that and provide zero evidence or argument to back it up?Jumpyjohn07-10-2026
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