CONFIRMED | Cian Uijtdebroeks makes Movistar debut against Evenepoel at Volta a Comunitat Valenciana

From the 4th to the 8th of February the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana will set the stage for Cian Uijtdebroeks’ debut with Movistar team. The Valencian race will be the first major test for a group that blends experience and youth, with clearly defined roles both in the mountains and on the flat.

In the mountains Pablo Castrillo, Raúl García Pierna and Iván Romeo will act as luxury domestiques and secondary GC cards, bringing solidity on the toughest terrain and the ability to control the pace on demanding finales.

On the flat, Michel Hessmann and Nelson Oliveira will be the key pieces to protect position, drive the chase, and keep the team well placed on days that suit the rouleurs. The line-up is completed by Daniele Forlin, making his first-team debut after stepping up from the development squad, adding valuable experience to his progression.

The race is going to feature a star-studded field headlined by Remco Evenepoel and João Almeida which will battle in the race's mountains; whilst the likes of Mads Pedersen and Biniam Girmay will start their seasons here respectively and headline the sprint battles.

Movistar for 2026 Volta a Comunitat Valenciana:
Cian Uijtdebroeks
Iván Romeo
Pablo Castrillo
Raúl García Pierna
Michel Hessmann
Nelson Oliveira
Daniele Forlin

Whilst he will not be present this week in Valencia, over the month of January the team has seen the rise of Diego Pescador, who began his season very strongly and with some breakthrough performances. He was second at the Classica Camp de Morvedre which opened up the European season; and was ninth at the Trofeo Andratx where he was part of Remco Evenepoel's winning attack.

“It’s always a bit of a burden to carry the hopes of so many Colombians after such a long drought,” he admitted to Marca during the Challenge Mallorca. “It’s not a small amount of pressure.” The 21-year old signed with Movistar last year and was notably racing an odd schedule which included racing in Australia, European one-day and stage-races, and races such as Paris-Roubaix and Eschborn-Frankurt all combined. The racing experience is now paying off as the Colombian is putting is power to better use and obtaining strong results.

Pescador himself sees this current moment as a transitional phase rather than a structural problem. Far from hiding, he embraces the challenge as a natural part of the process. “I think it’s a bump in the road like any other, and I’m happy to be part of that first group to return to what Colombia was a few years ago in top-level cycling,” he explained.

His vision aligns with that of Movistar, a team that has modified its roadmap after years built around established leaders like Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana. Now, the focus is on the progressive development of young riders, internal cohesion, and a measured approach. “The team is incredibly motivated; above all, it’s about staying calm,” the Colombian noted.