Canadian Olivia Baril a new acquisition for women's Movistar Team

Movistar Team continues to strengthen its roster ahead of the 2024 season and announces a signing that promises to make waves in the UCI Women's WorldTour. Olivia Baril, a 25-year-old Canadian cyclist, joins the Spanish team as of January 1 next year, becoming the fifth signing for the upcoming season. With an impressive performance in the mountains and flat terrain, and excelling in stage races, Baril is a major addition to the team led by Sebastián Unzué.

Originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Canada, Baril has resided in San Sebastian in recent years and has experienced a meteoric rise in her cycling career. 2023 marked her second season as a full-time professional cyclist, and she did so with a bang on the international scene.

During this year, Baril not only won the GP Eibar for the second consecutive year, but also achieved an outstanding stage victory in the Tour de l'Ardèche, where she finished fourth overall. In addition, the Canadian cyclist shined in two WorldTour rounds, the Itzulia, where she placed fourth overall, and the Tour of Scandinavia, where she finished sixth. Her participation in La Vuelta, where she placed 19th, and the Tour de France speak of her versatility and ability to face the most demanding challenges of elite cycling.

Olivia Baril joins Movistar Team with high expectations and a strong desire to evolve as a cyclist. Despite her prowess in climbing and stage racing, she is not content to limit herself to that profile. Her goal includes becoming an all-round cyclist, capable of contributing to the team in one-day races, both on flat and hilly terrain, and improving substantially in time trials.

In her own words, Baril states: "I don't want to be known simply as a climber. I think, in that sense, that both Movistar Team and I have high expectations in this 2024. We are an ambitious team, for sure we are going to go all out in classics, stage races, partial victories at World Tour level... and in my case, I also want to participate in the two events of the Olympic Games (line and time trial), and I know that Movistar Team will help me to be able to give it all in Paris as well".

Article written by Juan Larra.