“The idea is to try to complete all three Grand Tours” – Movistar’s dark horse leader lays out ambitious plan for 2026
Cycling
Einer Rubio is not framing his ambitions around a single race or a single result. Instead, the Movistar Team climber is looking at the season as a whole, with one clear objective guiding his year: lining up at the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana in the same campaign.
“The idea is to try to complete all three Grand Tours,” Rubio explained in conversation with Marca. “This year it is in the plan and we are going to try to do well.”
It is an approach that immediately sets him apart from many riders in the peloton. Rather than chasing a single peak or staking everything on a general classification, Rubio is embracing volume, resilience and opportunity, fully aware of what such a schedule demands.
“That’s the idea. To try to complete all three Grand Tours,” he added. “Last year we already thought about it after doing the Giro and the Tour, but completing the Vuelta as well was not in the original plan. This year it is.”
Stages over standings
Rubio is clear that this ambition does not come with illusions about riding every race at maximum intensity. Completing all three Grand Tours is, in his words, a challenge that goes well beyond physical conditioning.
“Completing all three Grand Tours is not only physical, it is also a mental challenge,” he said.
That mental clarity extends to his role on the road. Rather than tying himself to the pressure of a three week general classification battle, Rubio has chosen freedom and selectivity as his guiding principles.
“My plan is to go looking for stages, without thinking too much about the general classification,” he explained.
That approach also aligns with Movistar Team’s evolving leadership structure. The team now counts Cian Uijtdebroeks, signed from Team Visma | Lease a Bike, as a Grand Tour general classification option alongside Enric Mas, allowing Rubio to operate without the burden of overall responsibility.
It is not a retreat from ambition, but a strategic positioning shaped by experience and team context. Rubio has already demonstrated that he can survive deep into Grand Tours, while also understanding where his strengths are best expressed. Mountain stages, tactical days and moments where the favourites hesitate remain his natural hunting ground.
A wider perspective on Grand Tour success
Rubio’s outlook also reflects a broader, less insular view of success at the highest level. While Colombian cycling continues to search for its next Grand Tour winner, he avoids framing the challenge as a purely national one.
“Colombia is now trying to win Grand Tours again. It’s complicated, but there are good riders and it can be achieved in the future,” he said.
He then widened the lens further, removing national rivalry from the equation altogether.
“I don’t know whether Colombia or Spain will achieve it first, but I hope that soon one of the riders, whether Colombian or Spanish, manages it.”
That mindset fits naturally within Movistar Team, where Rubio describes his environment in personal rather than professional terms.
“I feel very happy in this team, for me it is like a family,” he said. “We are very excited about this new season.”
Measuring progress without pressure
Rubio’s plan to tackle all three Grand Tours is not about chasing a statistic or ticking a career box. It is about testing his limits in a controlled way, learning how his body and mind respond across an entire season, and taking opportunities when they present themselves.
Completing the Giro, Tour and Vuelta in one year will be a demanding task by any measure. But by removing the burden of overall standings and focusing on targeted days, Rubio is positioning himself as one of Movistar’s most intriguing cards for the season ahead.
As he prepares for a long year on the road, his ambition is simple and clearly defined. Ride all three Grand Tours. Choose the right moments. And see just how far that approach can take him at the elite level.
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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Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
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Ⓜ️ 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 presenta su proyecto 2026 con una identidad renovada y un compromiso real con el futuro del ciclismo. La escuadra, que cuenta con el patrocinio de @Telefonica, ha presentado en el Palau de Les Arts de la Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias de Valencia
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