“He can win Grand Tours” - New INEOS signing gets seal of approval from one of cycling's legendary riders as he steps up to British team
Cycling
Alejandro Valverde has given a very positive assessment of Spanish cycling in 2026, a year he considers especially notable for the results achieved in the lower age categories.
The former cyclist from Murcia praised the growth of the country’s young talent, while acknowledging that results in the elite categories at international championships still leave room for improvement.
“It has been incredible. I think it has been a very good year for cycling as a whole, both at grassroots and professional level,” Valverde told Eurosport, singling out the performances of young Spanish riders at the world and European championships. Although he accepts that the results in the professional elite category could have been better, he considers the overall picture exceptional.
In that regard, he highlighted the success of the lower age categories, which helped Spain achieve a historic record: “It was the year in which the Spanish delegation won the most medals, topping the international medal table among all nations.”
In Valverde’s view, that haul shows Spanish cycling has a solid foundation for the years ahead. “We have talent now, and we have talent for the future,” he concluded.
Benjamín Noval, gold medallist at the Cycling World Championships
Noval and Álvarez, two talents with international potential
Among the names shaping the future of Spanish cycling, Valverde highlighted Benjamín Noval and Héctor Álvarez, two young riders he expects to enjoy high-level professional careers.
The Murcian believes both have already shown they can compete at the highest level, while still having room to develop. “I see them as great professional riders. In fact, they already are, even though they are still young and need to keep growing,” he explained.
His confidence in both extends well beyond their next steps in the sport. Valverde believes they have the potential to become leading figures in major international events and contend for the top places at the European and World Championships.
“If it is not next year, it will be the year after, but they will show they have the quality to reach the podium at the European and World Championships, and perhaps one of them can even win a Grand Tour,” he said, making clear how high his expectations are for both riders.
Enric Mas regains confidence and delivers a major Vuelta for Movistar
Another topic Alejandro Valverde discussed was Enric Mas’s victory at La Vuelta, a win he believes was deserved after the Mallorcan had been a leading contender in the Spanish race for several years.
The former cyclist believes Mas had long shown he had the ability to win a Grand Tour, as reflected in his previous podium finishes. “I think he deserved it. He had a Vuelta a España in his legs. In fact, that is why he spent so many years on the podium: he had the level to win it, and now he has,” he said.
Valverde also stressed the personal and collective importance of the result. He sees the victory as a decisive boost for Enric Mas, helping him fully recognise the scale of his own talent. It was also a significant success for Movistar Team, which needed to win another three-week race.
“For him personally, it is incredible and will help him fully believe in the great rider he is. Movistar Team also needed another Grand Tour victory and to get back to the high level it had reached,” he said.
Enric Mas finished 2nd at Il Lombardia 2026.
Juan Ayuso has room to return to his best
Finally, Alejandro Valverde assessed Juan Ayuso’s season, acknowledging that expectations are always high because of the rider’s quality and potential.
The Murcian expressed sympathy for the difficulties the Spanish rider faced during the season and noted that athletes go through periods of better and worse form. “We all expect the very best from Juan Ayuso because he is a great rider. I completely understand: at the end of the day, we are people as well as athletes,” he said.
Valverde believes Ayuso did not reach the level he had hoped for, though he does not view the season as an outright failure. His 13th place at the World Championships shows he remained competitive, although his form at the European Championships was different.
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“Juan perhaps did not perform as well as he would have wanted, and he would have liked a better season. Some years are better than others. But even though it was not his best year, I think he did well: he finished 13th at the World Championships, though we might have expected a little more, and it is true that he had no legs at the Europeans,” he explained.
Despite that, Valverde remains confident in the rider’s future and hopes he can return to his best in the coming seasons: “We hope he does well in the years ahead.”
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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