Has one Movistar signing for 2027 slipped under the radar? Exciting U23 Colombian prospect heading to Spanish team

While much of the transfer-market spotlight falls on marquee signings, Movistar Team has already started building its future from the ground up. It has done so by sealing a signing that, although it flew under the radar for many fans, could prove a major long-term bet in the coming years.

On June 3rd, Mundo Ciclístico confirmed that Colombian rider Jerónimo Calderón will join the Movistar Team Academy, the U23 feeder team of the Spanish squad, from the 2027 season. The deal runs for two years, keeping the young rider tied to the Spanish structure through the end of 2028.

This addition underlines Movistar’s commitment to securing top Colombian talent before their definitive leap to the WorldTour. The news was greeted with clear excitement by the rider himself, who made no secret of his happiness once the agreement was made public.

Speaking via Team Sistecrédito, Calderón voiced his satisfaction at what he considers a pivotal step in his career: “I’m really happy with some very good news for me, a dream I’ve worked hard for that’s gradually become reality. I have so many words of thanks for Sistecrédito.”

After several years developing at home and establishing himself as one of the most compelling U23 prospects, the next step will be to test himself in Europe.

Jerónimo Calderón’s signing is no coincidence. His performances in recent seasons have stood out thanks to a blend of consistency and talent that has earned him notice both nationally and internationally.

One of his biggest successes arrived in 2026. The Colombian won the national U23 time trial title, confirming strong abilities against the clock and showcasing a skill set that is uncommon in riders of his age.

That result was backed up by a standout ride at the U23 Pan American Championships. There he finished third in the time trial, stepping onto the continental podium and further strengthening his case for a move into a European setup.

Even so, his name had been circulating since the previous season. In 2025 he won the overall at the Vuelta del Porvenir, one of the most important showcases for Colombia’s young prospects and a traditional springboard for the country’s future talents. That victory cemented his status as one of Colombia’s brightest gems.

Calderón’s sporting rise also earned him a place on Colombia’s roster for last year’s Worlds in Kigali. There he measured himself against some of the best junior riders on the planet. In the time trial he finished 14th, an impressive result given the depth of the international field. Later, in the road race, he delivered another solid display, finishing inside the top 20.

Those two results added valuable experience at the highest level and showed he can compete confidently against the world’s best young riders. Performances of that calibre in international fields are precisely the kind of markers teams like Movistar look for when recruiting talent for their development pathways.

Jerónimo Calderón’s sporting story began far from the bike. His first steps came through skating. In that discipline he started developing his physical abilities and his relationship with competitive sport. Over time, his interest in cycling grew until it became his main sporting goal. That decision set the course for his career.

Since then he has focused all his efforts on progressing on the bike, a path that has seen him become one of Colombia’s most promising young riders and now opens the door to one of the most important structures in Spanish cycling.

The challenge awaiting Jerónimo Calderón from 2027 will be demanding. The Movistar Team Academy has consolidated itself as a platform built to develop riders before a potential step up to the WorldTour squad, offering a competitive environment to adapt to European racing and continue their progression.

For the Colombian, it will be a crucial learning phase. He will have two seasons to prove he has the level to earn a chance within the WorldTour structure. That will likely be the main objective of his contract through 2028. Keep growing, adapt to continental racing, and convince the sporting management that he can become a valuable asset for Movistar Team’s future.

While current headlines at Movistar Team revolve around Tour de France preparations and the first team’s marquee names, the arrival of Jerónimo Calderón signals a long-term investment. The Spanish WorldTour squad continues to strengthen its pipeline with young riders who can ensure generational renewal in the coming years.

And the Colombian ticks several boxes these projects prize most: youth, room for growth, strong international results, and the ability to perform both in endurance races and in time trials.

There is, however, still a long road ahead. His move to Europe will pose a completely different challenge from what he has experienced so far in Colombia. But that is precisely why the Movistar Team Academy exists. To develop cyclists. To guide their evolution. To help ensure that, in a few years, a prospect like Jerónimo Calderón can become a new rider for Movistar Team’s first squad.

For now, his signing has flown largely under the radar. In time, it may be remembered as the first move in a project designed to secure the future of the telecom-backed team well before the rest of the market turned its gaze to one of Colombian cycling’s brightest talents.