"I’m happy to race in hot conditions": Movistar's youngest rider looks forward to debut in Australia

The 2026 Tour Down Under will open the new road season in less than two weeks. At the Australian WorldTour stage race, Movistar Team are aiming high. Last year they took 2nd overall thanks to Javier Romo, who also claimed a stage win.

For the imminent Tour Down Under, Romo will return as leader, and he will be supported by one of the team’s new signings for 2026 under Eusebio Unzué: Pavel Novak.

The young Czech will dive head first in his debut race as a WorldTour rider, directly competing in the highest category race. However, as he explained in comments shared by Movistar Team via X, Novak is unfazed by his first major test.

"Starting the season in Australia is very important for me because it will be my first race with Movistar Team as a pro. It’s a great opportunity to gain experience," Pavel Novak said, highlighting the value of beginning early with a WorldTour challenge alongside the telecom squad.

One of the keys to racing the Tour Down Under in January is the Australian heat. It’s summer there, and some riders can struggle after training through the European winter. Rather than worry, Novak sees it as motivation:

"The weather here in Australia is different from Europe, so I expect it to be very hot. But that’s not a problem for me. I’ve prepared well over the winter. I’m happy to race in hot conditions," he added about tackling the start of the campaign on a continent where January temperatures are completely different.

Finally, Pavel Novak outlined his expectations for the 2026 Tour Down Under. Will he chase his own chances, or focus on supporting Javier Romo?

"The goals at the Tour Down Under are to help the team as much as possible, keep learning as a professional and, if I have the chance to get a good result, that would be fantastic. But the priority is to help my teammates," concluded Movistar Team’s youngest recruit.