Movistar Team announces major internal overhaul ahead of 2026: “We want a modern, efficient structure aligned with today’s cycling”
Cycling
After a relatively quiet end to the 2025 season, Movistar Team has announced a sweeping internal restructuring aimed at modernising the organisation and strengthening its fight to remain in the World Tour beyond 2026.
The Spanish outfit confirmed the creation of a new development framework under the leadership of Sebastian Unzue, marking a decisive shift as the team prepares for a new three-year cycle.
Four new departments to “optimise processes and collaboration”
In an official statement, Movistar revealed that the overhaul would introduce four key departments — Performance, Racing, Health, and Riders — each led by dedicated specialists. The goal, according to Unzue, is to make the long-standing team more agile and better adapted to the demands of modern professional cycling.
“We want to continue evolving as an organisation and give the team a modern, efficient structure that reflects the demands of contemporary cycling,” Unzue said. “This new model will allow us to optimise processes and strengthen collaboration between all departments.”
The Performance Department, headed by Ivan Velasco and Xabier Muriel, will oversee engineering, biomechanics, nutrition, and R&D. The Racing Department will be led by Chente Garcia Acosta alongside Matthew White, who joins Movistar from 2026 to share sporting and planning duties.
Meanwhile, Inigo Michelena will front the Health Department, responsible for medical oversight and the riders’ overall wellbeing. The final Riders Department will be managed by the cyclists’ own representatives, reflecting a shift towards greater athlete involvement in the team’s decision-making processes.
As Movistar enters a crucial phase in its World Tour future — and with the threat of relegation never far away — this internal shake-up signals a clear intent to rebuild from within for what will hopefully be a better future. The team’s management hopes that by overhauling its structure now, it can create a more stable foundation for success in the seasons ahead.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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🆕 Movistar Team impulsa una nueva estructura en su Área Deportiva bajo el liderazgo de Sebastián Unzué. ✍️ Noticia / News: ES: bit.ly/4qzqQiT EN: bit.ly/4nwDRai #RodamosJuntos I @movistar_es
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