Movistar Team has reaffirmed its commitment to young talent in Spain by announcing the addition of
Jon Barrenetxea, a native of Gamiz-Fika, Bizkaia. Born in 2000, the young Basque rider joins the team's ranks after a standout season with
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA. Barrenetxea has signed a contract that will link him to the Abarca Sports structure for the next two seasons, covering the years 2024 and 2025.
The signing of Jon Barrenetxea represents the team's fourth Spanish acquisition for next season, joining the previously announced additions of Carlos Canal, Pelayo Sánchez and Javier Romo. Movistar Team has demonstrated its confidence in homegrown talent by bringing together this promising group of riders.
At nearly 1.90 meters tall, Jon Barrenetxea is a powerful all-rounder who has impressed in professional cycling during 2023. Among his most notable achievements was his victory in the Mountain classification at the Itzulia, where he spent much of the race in an impressive breakaway. He also took an outstanding third place in the Boucles de l'Aulne and showed his good level in international competitions such as Mayenne and Alentejo.
He also excelled at the demanding June National Championships in Madrid, where he took an impressive eighth place. His skills were evident with several outstanding breakaways in La Vuelta, culminating with a fifth place in Caravaca de la Cruz. His performance in 2023 was so outstanding that it earned him a call-up to represent Spain at the senior European Championships in Drenthe, Netherlands.
Jon Barrenetxea shared his thoughts on joining Movistar Team: "For me, it is a great pride and responsibility to join Movistar Team. I am very grateful to Caja Rural for the confidence they had in me to move to the pros; I have enjoyed cycling a lot and I have learned a lot by their side. This 2023 has helped me to confirm that I can have a nice career in the professional field, something you always have doubts about when you make the leap. I have been able to demonstrate my conditions and the ambition for the future is to continue growing as a cyclist, always looking to be better and learn from all the teammates I will be with now, who have a great level."