Cian Uijtdebroeks will lead a squad that combines youth, experience and talent in the team’s 44th participation in the Grande Boucle, which gets underway this Saturday in Barcelona with a team time trial.
Joining the Belgian rider will be Raúl García Pierna, Pablo Castrillo, Einer Rubio, Javier Romo, Nelson Oliveira, Jefferson Cepeda and Michel Hessmann. Together, the eight riders will represent the Spanish squad throughout the three weeks of racing at the world’s most prestigious cycling event.
The team brings together riders with a wide range of complementary strengths: from the youth and potential of Uijtdebroeks and Castrillo to the experience of Oliveira, alongside established climbers such as Rubio and Cepeda, and versatile riders capable of performing across all terrains like García Pierna and Romo. Hessmann completes a well-balanced lineup built to meet the demands of three weeks of top-level racing.
This year’s Tour de France will begin with a historic Grand Départ in the Catalan capital, marking only the third time the race has started in Spain, following San Sebastián in 1992 and Bilbao in 2023.
Movistar Team has finalized its lineup for the 2026 Tour de France. Cian Uijtdebroeks will lead a squad that blends youth, experience, and talent as the team makes its 44th appearance in the Grande Boucle.
The other seven riders representing Movistar Team over the next three weeks will be Raúl García Pierna, Pablo Castrillo, Einer Rubio, Javier Romo, Nelson Oliveira, Jefferson Cepeda, and Michel Hessmann.
The 113th edition of the Tour de France kicks off this Saturday with a 19.4-kilometer team time trial through the streets of Barcelona. This marks the third time the French race has held its Grand Départ in Spain, following San Sebastián (1992) and Bilbao (2023). A continuous presence at the Tour since 1983, Movistar Team—the longest-running outfit in the professional peloton—has won the race seven times: once with Pedro Delgado (1988), five times with Miguel Induráin (1991–1995), and once with Óscar Pereiro (2006).
Cian Uijtdebroeks
The young Belgian heads into his first Tour de France following a season in which he has confirmed his immense potential. At 23, Cian has delivered standout performances at the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes—finishing eighth and seventh, respectively—despite a crash in February during the Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana that disrupted the start of his season. Considered one of international cycling’s great talents, he already knows what it takes to compete in a Grand Tour against the best: he finished eighth in the 2023 Vuelta a España. He will be the team’s leader in the battle for the general classification.
Raúl García Pierna
A true all-rounder. Raúl has established himself as one of the standout Spanish cyclists of the moment, having already secured a stage win at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana this season. He has also shone in WorldTour events like the Tour of the Basque Country—where he finished second on a stage—and recently at the Tour of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he featured in four breakaways, finished three stages in the top ten, and showed great form in the mountains.
He will ride his third Tour de France backed by the confidence gained from his progress in the last two editions and with the versatility to contribute on any terrain.
Pablo Castrillo
Explosiveness and ambition. Pablo arrives at the Tour fresh from becoming the Spanish time trial champion, confirming the upward trajectory that saw him burst onto the elite scene with two stage wins at the 2024 Vuelta a España. In 2026, he finished third on the queen stage of the Tour de Romandie; although physical issues forced him to withdraw from the Tour of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, he demonstrated his good form through two breakaways.
At 25, he is set to tackle his second Tour de France—and the fourth Grand Tour of his career—having established himself as one of the most promising riders in the Spanish peloton.
Einer Rubio
A key figure in the mountains. Einer returns to competition following a Giro d’Italia where he once again demonstrated his fighting spirit. He featured in six breakaways and came close to victory on the stage to Andalo, confirming his ability to be a key player on the most demanding stages. Having recently extended his contract through 2028, the Colombian rider will compete in his second Tour de France, having established himself as a key member of the Movistar Team.
A proven climber and stage winner at the 2023 Giro d’Italia, the Colombian is set to shine on the highest peaks of this Tour de France.
Javier Romo
A rider suited to any terrain. Javier returns to a Grand Tour after being forced to withdraw from the Giro d’Italia due to illness. Now fully recovered, he returned to racing at the Tour de Suisse. He also comes into the race fresh off one of the best performances of his career: a third-place finish on the queen stage of the Itzulia Basque Country.
Romo heads into his second Tour de France as a rider on the rise, bringing with him the experience of having come agonizingly close to a stage win at last year’s Vuelta a España, where he finished second in Los Corrales de Buelna.
Nelson Oliveira
Our great captain. At 37, Nelson will once again lead the Movistar Team on the road in what will be his 24th Grand Tour—a tally comprising ten Tours de France, four Giros d’Italia, and ten Vueltas a España. It is an impressive record complemented by another exceptional statistic: he has never abandoned a single one of them.
After competing in the Giro d’Italia earlier this season, the Portuguese rider will once again serve as the team’s guide during decisive moments and act as a pillar of the squad.
Jefferson Cepeda
A reliable asset for the mountains. The Ecuadorian rider will make his Tour de France debut, marking the sixth Grand Tour of his career. In 2026, he once again demonstrated his quality by finishing seventh overall in the Tour de Romandie; despite being forced to withdraw from the Tour of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes due to a flu outbreak within the team, he will be fully recovered by the time the race starts in Barcelona.
An incredibly consistent climber, Jefferson will play a key role in supporting Cian Uijtdebroeks and strengthening the team during the high-mountain stages.
Michel Hessmann
A reward for consistency. The German rider has earned his spot in Movistar Team’s eight-man roster thanks to his hard work and steady performance during his second season with the team. At 25, he will experience the Tour de France for the first time, having previously competed in the Giro d’Italia (2023) and the Vuelta a España (2025).
His role will be crucial in supporting Cian Uijtdebroeks and adding stability to the squad throughout the three weeks of racing—just as he has done all year long. Michel has also recently extended his contract with Movistar Team through 2027.
