Movistar
Spain | Team website
Having been around in some guise since 1980, the Spanish super-team have seen it all, from 13 Grand Tour wins to their fair share of doping scandals.
They got off to a slow start under Movistar sponsorship in 2011, but welcomed back Alejandro Valverde from his two-year suspension and signed young GC prospect Nairo Quintana in 2012. Years of success followed soon after, but the Spanish team has struggled somewhat in the last couple of years.
Richard Carapaz won the 2019 Giro d'Italia, but soon switched teams for Ineos Grenadiers at the beginning of 2020, leaving Movistar's roster largely devoid of any real Grand Tour challenger.
Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana and Andrey Amador also all left the team at the end of 2019, leaving Valverde as the only star rider on the squad for 2020.
The veteran stalwart has managed to maintain his incredible consistency throughout his career, but at 41-years-old it is unlikely he'll challenge for major races in the way he used to. Despite that, he has an excellent palmares in the one day races.
He has won Liége-Bastogne-Liége four time, La Fléche Wallonne a staggering five times and taken 12 Vuelta stage wins and 4 stages at the TdF. And of course this was then rounded off by winning the World Championships in 2018.
Marc Soler and Enric Mas are both strong performers with wins to their names in 2021, but the loss of Vuelta a España stage 18 winner - the team's only Grand Tour victory last season - Miguel Ángel López is another loss to the once-formidable entity.
In 2020, Movistar suffered a major fall from their once indomitable position on the UCI World Team Ranking, and they managed to regain some credibility last season. However, they still ended up finishing thirteenth overall, a major setback in their aspirations to fight for Grand Tours again.
Retiring at the end of the season too is the irreplaceable Valverde, causing some in the peloton to question their chances of challenging at all in the next couple of years.
Movistar Team 2022 squad
Juan Diego Alba (COL)
Jorge Arcas (ESP)
Héctor Carretero (ESP)
Dario Cataldo (ITA)
Gabriel Cullaigh (GBR)
Iñigo Elosegui (ESP)
Imanol Erviti (ESP)
Iván García Cortina (ESP)
Abner González (PUR)
Juri Hollmann (GER)
Johan Jacobs (SUI)
Matteo Jorgenson (USA)
Miguel Ángel López (COL)
Enric Mas (ESP)
Lluís Mas (ESP)
Sebastián Mora (ESP)
Gregor Mühlberger (AUT)
Mathias Norsgaard (DEN)
Nelson Oliveira (POR)
Antonio Pedrero (ESP)
José Joaquín Rojas (ESP)
Einer Rubio (COL)
Sergio Samitier (ESP)
Gonzalo Serrano (ESP)
Marc Soler (ESP)
Albert Torres (ESP)
Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
Carlos Verona (ESP)
Davide Villella (ITA)
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Entire Movistar team fined after start ramp chaos at Vuelta Femenina
Visma-Lease a Bike file official complaint with the UCI following team time trial delays
By Tom Davidson Published
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'It's a bit scary' - WorldTour's youngest rider to pair schoolwork with racing
A-level student Carys Lloyd is one of Movistar's latest recruits
By Tom Davidson Published
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British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
By Tom Davidson Published
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Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
By Adam Becket Published
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Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
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Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers Published
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Six things we want to see in Movistar's ‘The Least Expected Day’ season four on Netflix
The fourth season of the series following the exploits of the Spanish team expected in 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Annemiek van Vleuten heads to Kenya with the Masai tribe
Dutch World Champion takes her gravel bike to Kenya for an off season adventure with the Masai tribe
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
By Adam Becket Published
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Movistar team up with Saudi Cycling Federation
Both sides will work together to promote cycling in Saudi Arabia
By Tom Davidson Published
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What I learned from watching season three of Netflix's Movistar documentary ‘The Least Expected Day'
Enric Mas battles to reach the top and 'Superman' brings the drama in the latest instalment of the Spanish Eastenders
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
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Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
By Owen Rogers Published
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Silvia Persico takes Ceratizit Challenge stage victory after a tense aggressive final
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer comes close to pulling off a repeat of her Tokyo triumph with a 158km solo break
By Owen Rogers Published
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Van Vleuten in a class of her own winning the second stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
The Movistar rider attacked on the penultimate climb dropping all her rivals to take the overall lead with three stages remaining
By Owen Rogers Published
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Attack to defend: Van Vleuten on the edge of Tour de France greatness
Anything can happen, say Movistar but he team are confident Annemiek van Vleuten will ride into history on Sunday’s final Tour de France Femmes stage
By Owen Rogers Last updated
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The mountains are coming: Tour de France Femmes favourites predict what's going to happen
Riders predict Saturday’s seventh stage will be the toughest of the race, but GC will be decided on Sunday at Super Planche des Belles Filles
By Owen Rogers Last updated
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Van Vleuten confirms her third Giro Donne victory
The Dutch rider finishes safely in the bunch while Chiara Consonni takes the final stage
By Owen Rogers Published
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'Sorry Mum!' Annemiek van Vleuten apologises after Giro Donne crash
The Movistar rider remounted, won the stage, extended her lead and warns tomorrow suits her
By Owen Rogers Published
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Not even a crash can stop Van Vleuten taking a second Giro Donne victory
The Dutch rider extends her overall lead to more than two minutes after crashing with only five kilometres from the line
By Owen Rogers Last updated
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“That was f***king hard!” Annemiek van Vleuten reacts after winning stage four of the Giro Donne
The Dutch rider warns that she is not in her best shape yet after arriving at the race from an altitude camp.
By Owen Rogers Last updated
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Juliette Labous takes a stunning breakaway mountain top win at the Giro Donne
Annemiek van Vleuten consolidated her overall lead, finishing second at Passo Maniva
By Owen Rogers Published
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Man accused of reversing into Alejandro Valverde released with charges
Valverde didn't suffer major injuries in the hit and run incident and has since been released from hospital
By Ryan Dabbs Last updated
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Annemiek van Vleuten wins a savage day at the Giro Donne
The fourth stage proves key as three women move clear of the rest in the GC standings
By Owen Rogers Published
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Alejandro Valverde involved in hit and run incident during training in Spain
Movistar confirm rider suffered no fractures or other injuries
By Tom Thewlis Published
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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 Last updated
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'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
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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 Last updated