Red Bull raid coming? Movistar face fight to keep their “captain general” from WorldTour rivals
Cycling
Movistar Team have secured their future leaders. Now they face a different test: keeping one of the riders who makes the team work.
Ivan Romeo has signed until 2030, while Enric Mas and Cian Uijtdebroeks are both under contract until 2029. That gives Eusebio Unzue’s squad a clear spine for the coming years. Ivan Garcia Cortina is another matter.
The Asturian is out of contract at the end of 2026, and according to Nacho Labarga of MARCA, Movistar have already opened talks over a renewal. The intention appears clear. Movistar want to keep him, and Garcia Cortina is expected to be open to staying. The problem is the market around him.
Red Bull interest raises the pressure
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe are reportedly among the teams interested in Garcia Cortina for 2027, having already made an offer for him in the past. That is where the situation becomes dangerous for Movistar. The Spanish team have identity, history and a natural pull for a Spanish rider. What they do not have is the same financial power as the biggest WorldTour projects.
Red Bull’s squad already includes Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic and Florian Lipowitz. If a team of that level decides to push seriously for Garcia Cortina, Movistar may find themselves in a difficult fight.
The logic still points towards a renewal. Both sides have reason to continue. But any delay, disagreement or gap in the contract talks could give rivals a chance to move. For Movistar, this is not just about keeping a popular Spanish rider. It is about protecting a profile they cannot easily replace.
Could Ivan Garcia Cortina be on his way out of Movistar?
Why Garcia Cortina matters to Movistar
Garcia Cortina is not a pure sprinter, not a climber, and not a Grand Tour leader. That is exactly why he matters. He gives Movistar something different. He can handle the Classics, fight for position in chaotic finales, survive hard days, contest reduced sprints and work deep into Grand Tour stages. In a squad still built heavily around climbing strength, that versatility carries real value.
His best win remains Gran Piemonte in 2022. He has also taken stage victories at Paris-Nice and the Tour of California, while his third place at the 2019 GP de Montreal showed his level on demanding one-day terrain.
More recently, he has become one of Movistar’s most reliable spring Monument riders. His ninth place at the 2025 Tour of Flanders, won by Tadej Pogacar, stands out as one of the team’s strongest recent results in a race where Movistar have rarely looked like natural contenders.
That is why this renewal matters. Garcia Cortina is not the biggest name in Movistar’s squad, but he is one of the riders who broadens what they can do. Movistar have already protected Mas, Uijtdebroeks and Romeo. Keeping Garcia Cortina would be another kind of statement. It would show they can still hold onto the riders who give the team balance, not just the ones who carry the biggest results sheet.
Red Bull’s reported interest makes that harder. Movistar may still be favourites to keep their “captain general”, but this is no routine contract extension anymore.
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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