Benjamin Noval, the junior world champion in both time trials and road racing, has yet to ride his first race for Netcompany INEOS. Yet in Spain, there is already intense speculation about terminating his contract, even before he’s raced a single kilometer. The British team reportedly wants to extend his contract by three years—under significantly improved terms. Read more below the photo!
Benjamin Noval became World Champion twice in 2026
Benjamin Noval has had a prolific autumn
Noval turned 18 two weeks ago. His junior world championship wins in Montreal in September were already his 17th and 18th victories of the season.
He then went and won the European Junior Time Trial Championship one week later
The son of former pro—and namesake—Benjamin Noval, who served for many years as a domestique for riders including Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador, is skipping the U23 ranks and will officially race for Netcompany INEOS starting January 1.
He has already
signed a two-year contract with the team, though the British side is eager to extend it.
Benjamin Noval won the world championship twice in Canada.
Noval Is offered a major contract with Netcompany INEOS
According to
Marca, negotiations are underway, and an agreement is expected this week. The Spanish sports newspaper reports that Noval was in Denmark earlier this week for the team's training camp at sponsor Netcompany.
There, he would also discuss a significantly improved contract with his agent, Giuseppe Acquadro. Noval could then land “the biggest contract ever for a rider his age.”
Given recent developments in the peloton, this is a logical next step based on his performances: everyone is already on the hunt for the next Pogacar, Vingegaard, or Seixas.
Noval, who turned 18 earlier this month, could earn more than 1 million per year and, in exchange, commit to Netcompany INEOS through 2031.