Caja Rural - Seguros RGA signs Australian climber Sebastian Berwick - "I saw Caja Rural-Seguros RGA as a fantastic opportunity to take on a more relevant role and gain more personal opportunities"

Cycling Market: Australian climber Sebastian Berwick joins the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team as the fifth signing for next season, marking a milestone by being the first to come directly to the team, without coming from the Caja Rural-Alea subsidiary team.

At just 23 years of age, Berwick, who will turn 24 this December, has accumulated remarkable experience, participating in two grand tours: the Vuelta a España and this season's Giro d'Italia, where he showed his ability by competing in the tricky finish at Rívoli, finishing third.

The Australian stands out for his ability in the mountains, a terrain in which he has shown his best performance throughout his three seasons with Israel - Premier Tech. His outstanding performance in the Herald Sun Tour prior to the 2020 competitive break, where he finished second only to Jay Hindley, opened the door to a contract in the top category.

During this period, Berwick has capitalized on his opportunities in races where he started as a leader. He won a stage and second place in last year's Alpes Isère Tour and won the overall and the queen stage of the Tour Alsace this July, with a finish on the demanding and renowned Planche des Belles Filles. The Australian extended his streak with another stage win and second overall at the Tour de Hainan (2.Pro) before closing the season at the Tour de Guangxi.

Berwick, a light rider with plenty of room for improvement and a rising performance, hopes to continue his evolution within the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team, where he will have the freedom to exploit and develop his skills for at least the next two seasons.

In an interview with the team, Berwick shared his expectations and motivations for joining the Spanish outfit: "I saw Caja Rural-Seguros RGA as a fantastic opportunity to take on a more relevant role and gain more personal opportunities in this crucial phase of my career. I firmly believe that with the support and determination I have found here, I can achieve something exciting."

On his cycling style, Berwick described himself as "a climber who can perform well on short, steep climbs, and I also enjoy trying my luck in breakaways." Reflecting on his 2023 season, the Australian shared, "Yes, I think I can be happy with my performance in 2023, although I'm not completely satisfied. I'm motivated to improve in 2024 with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and give my best for both my benefit and that of the team, which has placed great trust in me to achieve good results."

Looking ahead, Berwick expressed his main desire: "What I really hope to achieve next year is to win. That is my main goal and I will give my best to achieve it."

Article written by Juan Larra.