Fernando Gaviria is now officially heading to Caja Rural - Seguros RGA for the 2026 season, ending a turbulent three-year spell at Movistar Team and opening a new chapter that both parties hope will reignite his sprinting career.
The Colombian star has not lifted his arms since February 2024, but his arrival is still viewed inside Caja Rural as a statement signing — a rider with Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage victories now stepping into a leadership role at ProTeam level. After a decade spent in WorldTour structures, this is a rare reset moment.
A major bet on experience — and on revival
Caja Rural have been unusually aggressive in the transfer market, moving for WorldTour-level talent in both Gaviria and recent ex-Cofidis rider Stefano Oldani. The objective is clear: bolster their sprinting options, score UCI points, and strengthen their case for Grand Tour invitations each year.
Gaviria is expected to share fast-finish duties with Portuguese sprinter Iuri Leitao, forming a duo the team believes can lift their presence in bigger races while giving younger riders a valuable reference point inside the group.
For Gaviria, the motivation landed the moment talks began. “What motivated me most to join Caja Rural–Seguros RGA was the conversation I had with them, in which I sensed a huge enthusiasm for my arrival. It seemed like a very interesting opportunity and I’m confident I can give my best.”
Those words mark a contrast to his fading role at Movistar, where he slipped behind Orluis Aular in the sprint hierarchy and saw his race calendar cut back, riding no Grand Tours in 2025.
Gaviria has had a quiet few seasons for Movistar at World Tour level
A final shot at history
Despite his difficult last season, the numbers behind Gaviria’s career remain formidable: Tour de France stage wins, a points jersey at the Giro, and more than 50 professional victories across a decade at the top. Caja Rural believe those legs — when well-supported and confidence restored — can still deliver.
Gaviria has set his ambitions clearly: “My aim is to work well, help the team as much as I can and try to win races. Riding a Grand Tour would be special and, in the case of the Vuelta a Espana, being able to fight for victories there to complete the set in all three Grand Tours would be really exciting.”
If he were to win a stage, it would complete a unique treble: stage victories in the Tour, Giro, and Vuelta.
A mutually beneficial gamble
Inside Caja Rural–Seguros RGA, the move is framed as both strategic and symbolic. Gaviria brings something their young core lacks — top-end speed, a proven record in WorldTour sprints, and the experience of navigating cycling’s biggest races. In return, he receives a calendar built around his strengths and a team genuinely invested in reviving his career rather than replacing him.
If Gaviria can rediscover even a fraction of the form that once made him cycling’s most feared finisher, this signing could prove one of the most impactful of the 2026 ProTeam market.
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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