🎥 Caja Rural release 2026 Tour de France team with 'best in show' team reveal video

The final wild card berth for the Tour de France went to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. The Spanish team will have been hard at work preparing for the world’s biggest cycling race, but it looks like they've been working just as hard on their Tour de France 'team reveal' video. In releasing its eight-rider team on social media, Caja Rural have created a masterpiece. Scroll down to watch the social media video.

The Spanish team knows all too well how important the Tour de France is. “The most anticipated week has arrived. Eight riders will represent the green team in its first Tour de France, following a rigorous selection process aimed at putting together a team capable of performing across a wide range of terrains,” according to a press release.

Who then made it through that rigorous selection process? First up is Abel Balderstone, who finished fourth in O Gran Camiño this year. Starting in Barcelona is especially meaningful for him, since he lives there. Sebastian Berwick, for his part, is making his Tour de France debut. “A climber and a tireless rider in equal measure,” according to his team. Berwick won the overall classification in this year’s Tour of Turkey.

A familiar face in the Tour de France: Fernando Gaviria, who will be competing for the third time. With Alex Molenaar, the Spanish team also has some Dutch representation. “An all-rounder who can make a contribution on various surfaces. He’ll support Fernando Gaviria, but will also try to make his mark in breakaways, where he’ll aim to showcase his skills on hilly terrain and his impressive top speed.”

The team’s lead road captain is Joel Nicolau. “A courageous rider who, when in top form, is capable of conquering difficult terrain,” according to his team. Stefano Oldani, despite being 28 years old, is also making his Tour debut. “A driven cyclist who is expected to support Fernando Gaviria in the run-up to the various bunch sprints, but at the same time must play his cards right on stages that are more suited to breakaways.”

Finally, Caja Rural is also counting on Jakub Otruba and José Félix Parra. Otruba is versatile and can excel in many situations, especially in a breakaway. Parra is a pure climber who recently finished an impressive ninth in the overall standings of the Dauphiné. All in all, a versatile group of eight.

Sports Director José Miguel Fernández is certainly eager to get started. “We’re incredibly excited about this fantastic opportunity for the team. Participating in the Tour de France is a great honor, and we want to repay the trust ASO has placed in us by giving it our all in every stage and staying true to our racing style.”

By his own account, selecting the eight riders was “the hardest decision ever.” “The level of performance the team has shown throughout the season has been outstanding, and we’re aware that some riders—who, based on their performance and quality, also deserved a spot on this team—didn’t make the cut. That says a lot about the group we’ve built.”

So the Spanish team focused primarily on building a well-balanced squad. “With climbers who can shine in the high mountains and, at the same time, form a solid unit capable of playing a key role in breakaways on the flat and medium-mountain stages. We’re also very excited about the sprint finishes with our sprinter, Fernando Gaviria.”

"Being at the starting line in Barcelona is the culmination of many years of work, effort, and perseverance. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get here, and the entire team is looking forward to this Tour with tremendous enthusiasm and motivation. We want to enjoy this unique opportunity, compete ambitiously, and showcase this team’s caliber and identity in the world’s greatest cycling race,” said Fernández.

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