Annemiek van Vleuten signs for Movistar
The reigning world champion is leaving Mitchelton-Scott after five years of dominance


Annemiek van Vleuten will be leaving Mitchelton-Scott for Movistar.
The Dutch superstar will be leaving her current team after five seasons of dominating the women’s peloton.
Van Vleuten, reigning world champion, will join the Spanish Women’s WorldTour team on a two year deal.
The 37-year-old said: “I'm not the youngest in the peloton anymore, but I am super ambitious and I want to do very well with this team. It is not in my head to think about retirement, far from it. Right now what matters to me is to keep improving.
“Hopefully joining this team and enjoying this new environment will give me new energy. In addition to improving that performance, I see this opportunity as a good time to join a team of young girls who, after these years of growth of the Movistar Team, surely can take advantage of having someone like me by their side, who transmits those little things to them, those important tips to take the last big leap.
“I like working with young talents, and helping them and also supporting Spanish cycling is another goal for me here.”
Van Vleuten has history with Movistar dating back to 2014, when one of the team’s coaches invited her to train with the men’s team in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
The training session was the first time Van Vleuten had ridden with a men’s squad, an approach she has become famed for as she now regularly rides with the men’s Mitchelton team.
She said: “We trained quietly, they waited for me after the climbs, each one did their work and every day, after dinner, you could tell that there was good vibes in the team, they got together to stay a while longer instead of going back to their rooms ... I even played table tennis one day with Alejandro Valverde!
“With the women's team, the feeling is the same.”
Van Vleuten will transform the Movistar squad when she arrives, as the outfit have been lacking an international star. The team hope Van Vleuten can win big in a huge range of races.
>>> UCI will announce new venue for World Championships this week
Manager of the Movistar women’s team, Sebastian Unzue, said: “Her greatness lies in the fact that she is, perhaps, the only cyclist who, from my point of view, is capable of winning any race on the calendar. For the team it is a great challenge, a great motivation and it allows us to aim high and aspire to win, or be in front, in the most important races on the calendar.”
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Best bicycle insurance, including what you need to know and how to compare
Wondering how to protect your pride and joy? Our helpful guide tells you all you need to know about bicycle insurance
By Hannah Bussey • Published
-
Five talking points from stage eleven of the Giro d’Italia 2022
The Cycling Weekly highlights package from the stage which finally saw an Italian win at the home race this year
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Simon Yates to target stage wins after ending general classification challenge at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider to hunt stage wins in final two weeks
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I just tried to go as fast as possible' — Simon Yates on his Giro d'Italia time trial win
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider beat Mathieu van der Poel by three seconds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Simon Yates aims for podium at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco build team around Briton as he chases top-three again
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Winning has become harder in women’s cycling,' says Annemiek van Vleuten
Dutch rider pleased to have the confidence to attack twice to take Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes victory
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Annemiek Van Vleuten back to form taking a battling solo win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The Movistar rider took a tenacious win with repeated attacks, finally going clear on the final classified climb riding solo for 10km
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Alejandro Valverde: Second place at Flèche Wallonne 'is worth as much as a victory'
Spaniard finishes on podium for eight time in final time up Mur de Huy
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Kaden Groves sprints to victory on stage two of Volta a Catalunya as crosswinds and crashes impact race
BikeExchange-Jayco win second stage in a row but Simon Yates loses time after crash
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Michael Matthews storms to victory on opening stage of Volta a Catalunya
Australian wins for a second time in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, outsprinting Sonny Colbrelli
By Adam Becket • Published