"That’s the kind of rider we look for" - EF Education-EasyPost confirm signing of former INEOS and Movistar Colombian climber
Cycling
EF Education-EasyPost have confirmed the signing of Colombian Ivan Sosa, with the climber joining from Equipo Kern Pharma on a two-year deal. Bolstering their options in the high mountains, the team hope he can hit his stride after some difficult seasons.
Sosa rode with igneous from 2019 to 2021 before joining for three seasons. With Kern Pharma, he ended his 2025 season prematurely to undergo surgery on his iliac artery. He bounced back this season with a second place at the Colombian National Championships, a win at the Tour of Türkiye and two top-tens at the Vuelta a Espana.
After two years at the ProTeam, he returns to WorldTour with renewed confidence that he can help fill the void left behind by Richard Carapaz's departure to NSN. He joins Tao Goeghegan Hart and Emil Herzog as the team's new arrivals since the Ecuadorian left last week.
“I think I came [to Türkiye] with that sense of excitement. I’d already gotten off to a good start at the national championship in Colombia, and coming here to Europe, I wanted to do really well," Sosa said in the announcement.
Ivan Sosa
Sosa on his renewed confidence
"I think I wanted to do well at the Volta Ciclista Catalunya, but I had a bit of an allergy. In the end, it was a step-by-step process, and in Türkiye it was really great to win again, and I think that kind of restored my confidence and motivated me to keep working toward more victories.”
Sosa wants to win races at EF, and credits his upward trajectory across 2026 instilling belief that he can move up a gear with the American team.
“Everything's just getting better and better. I’m growing more and more, and I feel better and better. I'm really happy, really pleased, because I also had the chance to see how my body was holding up and I realise that I’m fine now.
"It really motivates me to be able to rejoin the WorldTour and know that I’ll have the team’s support—everyone’s support—and that we’ll be able to improve and win races. That’s what I want and what I think the team wants, too.”
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Vaughters praises new EF signing
Team manager Jonathan Vaughters shares that same confidence, noting the rider's knack for finding the right move and credentials in the mountains as a major part of their strategy in signing the rider.
“Ivan is on his way to firing on all cylinders for the first time in a few years. He’s going to be a huge help to our team when we’re racing in the high mountains. He is savvy enough to get himself into a strong breakaway and then he’s strong enough to be able to make it to the finale," Vaughters said.
"We saw him do that twice at the Vuelta a España. And after his recovery from iliac artery surgery, he has shown how motivated he is to race aggressively in search of wins. That’s the kind of rider we look for.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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