Sudden doping case around Lazkano pushes devastating verdict on Movistar into the background

Back in the day, a good report card might earn you a few euros from your grandparents; a bad one… not so much. In our In de Leiderstrui season report card series, it’s now Movistar’s turn — and let’s just say, the Spanish squad shouldn’t count on a cash bonus from grandpa or grandma this year.

Let’s be honest right from the start: Movistar has never been a powerhouse when it comes to the classics. For years, Iván García Cortina has been the lone soldier carrying the team on the cobbles, and even now, there are few riders truly suited to that terrain. Still, García Cortina did manage an impressive ninth place at the Tour of Flanders. The hilly races usually suit Movistar better, but this season, it was slim pickings there too.

A third place at Eschborn–Frankfurt (Jon Barrenetxea) and a fourth at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (Javier Romo) were the only top results at WorldTour level. Beyond that, Carlos Canal put in some solid work (second at Coppa Agostoni), and Natnael Tesfatsion collected a few nice results late in the season. But the riders expected to lead the way… never really showed up.

New signings Javier Castrillo and Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda were invisible in one-day races, and the team was hit hard by the loss of Enric Mas. Normally, the Spaniard shines in the Italian autumn classics, but he had to shut down his season early due to a vascular inflammation. No results for Mas — and that’s exactly what Movistar was missing.

The only real success came from national titles. Cepeda became Ecuadorian time trial champion, Orluis Aular took both the road and time trial titles in Venezuela, and Iván Romeo won the Spanish road race championship. They all count as wins for Movistar, sure — but not exactly the kind of triumphs the team was hoping for.

Mas’s health issues meant he was never at his best in the Grand Tours. The 30-year-old climber started the Tour de France as team leader but had to abandon after two disappointing weeks due to his injury. In spring, however, he had shown glimpses of his class — third in the Volta a Catalunya and second in the Itzulia Basque Country.

In the Giro d’Italia, Einer Rubio finished a pretty impressive but anonymous eighth overall. The Vuelta a España brought no joy either: without a clear leader, the team couldn’t manage a stage win in their home race. Movistar went winless across all three Grand Tours. In smaller stage races, riders like Castrillo and Cepeda managed a few decent placings, but overall, the team lacked real impact.

Not everything was bad, though. Javier Romo kicked off the season with a win at the Tour Down Under, though he faded a little after January. Newcomer Orluis Aular, while only claiming his national titles, racked up eleven top-10 finishes across the Giro and Vuelta — consistent if not spectacular. And what about Iván Romeo? At just 22, he stepped up as a genuine GC prospect with fourth in the UAE Tour and stage wins in both Valencia and the Dauphiné.

With nine victories, Movistar technically won one more race than last year — but in truth, the season felt flat. Four of those wins came from national championships, and only a couple were true WorldTour successes (Tour Down Under and Dauphiné). When all was said and done, our editorial team rated Movistar’s year at a disappointing 3.8 out of 10.

After such a poor year, big changes were needed — and to be fair, Movistar’s incoming transfer list looks very promising. The headline signing is, of course, Cian Uijtdebroeks. The Belgian talent leaves Visma | Lease a Bike to become a team leader in Spain, setting up a healthy rivalry (and possible partnership) with Mas. For Mas, it’s might be a relief not to have to carry the team alone anymore.

Another strong addition is Roger Adrià, who showed his class with Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe in 2024. If he can rediscover that form, Movistar gains a dangerous punchy climber and a serious classics threat. The team also brings in Juan Pedro López and Raúl García Pierna — two quality Spaniards. López strengthens the climbing unit, while García Pierna adds power in the time trials and stage races.

Finally, Pavel Novák, third overall in the Giro Next Gen and a stage winner there, points to Movistar’s investment in youth. Departures include Gregor Mühlberger and Will Barta (both mountain domestiques), and Mathias Norsgaard, who moves to Lidl–Trek to bolster their classics squad. Fernando Gaviria, Ruben Guerreiro, Antonio Pedrero, and Davide Cimolai also seem to be on their way out — trimming what the team likely sees as dead weight.

Transfers in: Roger Adrià (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek), Raúl García Pierna (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Pavel Novák (MBH Bank Ballan CSB)

Transfers out: Gregor Mühlberger (Decathlon CMA CGM), Will Barta (Tudor), Mathias Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek)

The youth is the future — and that’s very much the case at Movistar. The first hope, of course, is the comeback of Enric Mas, who’ll be eager to shine again after his injury. The team will also expect Cepeda, Castrillo, and Pelayo Sánchez (who went fully off the radar in 2025) to step up. Romo had a solid year, but more progress is needed from that core group.

But the young guns are definitely moving up. Iván Romeo enjoyed a breakout season, proving to be not just a strong time trialist but also a capable climber. If he keeps developing, he could already find himself in a leadership role in a Grand Tour next year. Pavel Novák isn’t quite there yet, but keep an eye on the young Czech talent.

The big name to watch, though, is Cian Uijtdebroeks. What can the Belgian climber do in his first season with Movistar? His eighth place at the Vuelta already feels like a long time ago, but he’s still only 22. With Juan Pedro López and Raúl García Pierna joining too, the team’s climbing depth has improved significantly.

Roger Adrià is another who can climb well, but the expectation is that he’ll focus more on the Ardennes Classics, where his punchy style fits perfectly. And in the sprints, Orluis Aular takes over the lead role with Fernando Gaviria seemingly on his way out. The Venezuelan has already filled that gap nicely — all that’s missing now is a big win.