“I’d like to win the Tour, Giro and Vuelta” - INEOS' 17-year old future rider as ambitious as past Evenepoel

At just 17, Benjamín Noval Jr. is one of the standout names in Spanish youth cycling. National champion on the road, in mountain bike and cyclocross, the Asturian embodies the modern multi-discipline rider and already has a guaranteed step up to the pros in 2027 with INEOS Grenadiers, one of the most powerful structures in the WorldTour peloton.

“Everyone dreams of trying to win or make the podium, but I know it will be tough. There are very strong rivals and we’re quite evenly matched,” Noval told AS ahead of the Benidorm World Cup last weekend, where closer to home he raced to fourth in the men's junior event. Noval’s success on the road, in cyclocross and MTB is no accident. The rider himself points to recovery management as a key to his progression:

“Not overloading the body and, above all, the mind is the most important thing.” For him, enjoying the process is essential: “You always need a goal, that’s crucial.” As for preferences, the Asturian leans slightly toward the road. “I’m better on the road, you don’t have to corner as much and it doesn’t depend as much on raw power,” he notes.

He ranks mountain bike next and, lastly, cyclocross, a discipline where he admits there’s room to grow: “I have to improve a lot of things, especially technically, but I think the engine is the same as on the road.”

Cycling is in his DNA. The influence of his father, also a cyclist and former right-hand man of Alberto Contador, is a constant in his daily routine. “He’s always there and tells you both the good and the bad. I like being told what I’m doing wrong, because you often don’t notice,” he says, underlining the value of that experience.

Among his references is a leading name in Spanish cycling that comes with no surprise: Alberto Contador. He's shaped his sporting imagination. “I know almost all his races, and I think he is a reference point. I hope I can be like him and climb as fast as he did,” he admits.

His arrival in the professional ranks is already on the calendar. Currently he races for the MMR Academy, but in 2027 he will wear INEOS colours and, as he explains, he will do so directly with the first team. “Getting used to the category will be important, finding a good rhythm and a solid base,” he says, aware it will be “a tough year, different, with new experiences.”

Noval admits he is still figuring out what type of rider he will be. “Right now you don’t really know what you are,” he says with a smile. What he does know is his taste for hard races and stage races. “The Tour, La Vuelta and the Giro are races that catch everyone’s eye,” he states.

He doesn’t hide his dreams. “I’d like to win the Tour, Giro and Vuelta; I think about it every day to keep that motivation,” he says, aware those are huge goals, but convinced they are part of what drives him to improve.

As his sporting career accelerates, Noval balances cycling with school, and is able to combine the two successfully: “Between trips you always find time to read or learn new things.”

In the short term, the focus is on the World Championships in Hulst. He arrives confident and with an ambitious goal. “The form is there, I feel fast and motivated. I want to improve on last year, so the target is a podium,” he concludes, making it clear that his talent is matched by a rare ambition for his age.