Movistar Team robs UAE and Visma of great Czech talent who aims to one day win the Giro d'Italia
Cycling
The world of cycling is used to seeing the rise of new talents who, over the years, manage to make a name for themselves in the most important competitions. One such name that promises to make a mark in the near future is that of Czech climber Pavel Novak. The 20-year-old signed for Movistar Team through 2028.
The young cyclist, who has been showing his potential in renowned races, has been one of the most outstanding revelations in recent years. And in 2026, he will take the next step in his career by joining the Spanish World Tour formation, as was confirmed by the telephone outfit through its website. Novak thus joins other recruits Roger Adria, Juan Pedro Lopez and Raul Garcia Pierna.
A meteoric rise
Pavel Novák has been a key player in several competitions, standing out particularly on the Italian under-23 circuit. At only 20 years old, the MBH Bank Ballan CSB rider has achieved outstanding results that place him among the future greats of cycling.
One of his most notable performances came at the 2025 Giro d'Italia Next Gen, where he not only took third place in the overall classification, but also won one of the challenging mountain stages, with an impressive solo attack from far out.
Among Novak's most notable results was his victory in the Trofeo Piva in 2024, one of the highly contested Italian under-23 one-day races. The Czech demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level at the Tour de Hongrie this year when he finished 6th overall in the competition of several WorldTour lineups.
Academy: the project that will prevent talent loss
A few weeks ago, Nacho Labarga, renowned journalist of Marca, provided information about the Spanish team for next season. From 2026, Movistar Team will have a continental subsidiary team: Movistar Team Academy.
This structure was created with the aim of developing talent from cadets to the WorldTour, aiming to avoid losses of outstanding talents such as Pablo Torres, Adria Pericas or Héctor Álvarez in the past. Based in Egüés (Navarra), the initial squad will be between 10 and 12 cyclists.
Some names that sound are Javier Cubillas, Markel Aranaz or Álvaro Sansano, in a block with 65% of national riders and places also for international talents where there will be Italians and Portuguese.
Roger Adrià is one of Movistar Team's major signings for 2026
While Pavel Novak immediately jumps to the main team, among names rumoured for the development structure is also Pavel's younger brother, Filip Novak. The 17-year-old Czech seems to be, just like his brother, a promising climber who took the earliest steps in his career on the Italian national circuit and it is to be seen if he can follow his brother's footsteps and join WorldTour in the future.
Statements by Novak
"For me, signing with Movistar Team is a dream come true. It is one of the most iconic and respected teams in the history of cycling, and to be part of this project is a great honor and a huge motivation."
"For my career it means a very important step forward. I will be able to grow and learn in a WorldTour structure, surrounded by experienced riders, and I'm sure it will help me develop and progress as a rider. I'm really looking forward to starting this new stage."
Read also
💙 ¡🇨🇿 Bienvenido Pavel! 2⃣0⃣2⃣6⃣ - 2⃣0⃣2⃣8⃣
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) September 19, 2025
Movistar Team incorpora a Pavel Novák hasta 2028.
✍️ Noticia ampliada: https://t.co/97NjiTPgHk#RodamosJuntos I @movistar_es pic.twitter.com/gVlfwJZnm0
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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