Movistar 2026 Tour de France - Uijtdebroeks leads new generation in search of long awaited success

2025 Tour de France:

• 2025 Tour stage wins: 0 
• 2025 Best GC finish: 18th - Gregor Mühlberger

2026 Objectives: 

Cian Uijtdebroeks will lead Movistar’s general classification ambitions on his Tour de France debut. After finishing eighth at the 2023 Vuelta a España, the Belgian has already shown that he can compete over three weeks, with a place in the top ten likely to be the main target.

Uijtdebroeks will be supported in the mountains by Einer Rubio, Jefferson Cepeda and Javier Romo. Rubio and Cepeda provide proven climbing strength, while Romo can stay with the team leader deep into difficult stages.

Movistar will also look for stage victories through breakaways. Spanish time trial champion Pablo Castrillo is one of their strongest options on hilly and mountainous terrain, while Raúl García Pierna, Rubio and Romo could all be given opportunities to pursue individual results.

🇧🇪 Cian Uijtdebroeks (23): A former winner of the Tour de l'Avenir, many Belgians would have dreamt that Uijtdebroeks could become the first Tour winner from their nation since Lucien Van Impe in 1976. 

After finishing 8th in the Vuelta in 2023, Uijtdebroeks was forced to abandon his last two Grand Tours, the Giro and Vuelta in 2024. However, since his move to Movistar, the Belgian has had some noticeable performances, including at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he finished seventh, a positive indication of where he is heading ahead of his debut Tour.

🇨🇴 Einer Rubio (28): The Colombian climber is a fireworks rider whenever he goes to a Grand Tour. Whether it's targeting a top 10 GC finish or a stage win, Rubio is always active and looking to animate the race. Rubio was relentless in his attempts to try and win a stage from the breakaway at the Giro in May, and missing out will only drive his motivation further ahead of the Tour.

🇪🇸 Pablo Castrillo (25): The Spanish climber burst onto the Grand Tour scene by winning two stages of the Vuelta in 2024, leading to a switch to Movistar. Last year, Castrillo made his Tour debut, gaining valuable experience. After a solid season, including results such as 15th at the Tour de Romandie and winning the Spanish time trial championships, Castrillo could be one of many Movistar riders to watch from breakaways.

🇪🇸 Raúl García Pierna (25): García Pierna returns for his third Tour after finishing 26th overall in 2025. He is one of the most versatile riders in the selection and can contribute on rolling terrain, in breakaways and during the mountain stages. He won the final stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana earlier this season, finished second on a stage of the Itzulia Basque Country and repeatedly attacked at the Tour Auvergne Rhône Alpes. 

🇩🇪 Michel Hessman (25): The German has been part of the Spanish squad for important stage races this season, including Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Hessman has ridden the Giro and Vuelta once previously, and will make his Tour debut to complete the set.

🇪🇸 Javier Romo (27): The Spaniard returns to the Tour after finishing 23rd on his debut in 2024. He started this year’s Giro but was forced to abandon due to illness, before returning to competition at the Tour de Suisse. His third place on the queen stage of the Itzulia Basque Country was one of the strongest performances of his career.Romo can assist Uijtdebroeks deep into demanding stages, but he is also capable of joining breakaways and pursuing his own result.

🇵🇹 Nelson Oliveira (37): Oliveira provides the experience that an otherwise young selection needs. The Portuguese rider will start his tenth Tour and his 24th Grand Tour, having completed every Grand Tour he has entered. His responsibilities will go far beyond producing results of his own. Oliveira will organise the team on the road, guide Uijtdebroeks through difficult moments and control the race when Movistar need to protect their leader. His strength against the clock could also be valuable during the opening team time trial in Barcelona.

🇪🇨 Jefferson Cepeda (30): Cepeda will make his Tour debut after previously completing five Grand Tours. The Ecuadorian finished seventh at the Tour de Romandie this season, confirming his ability to perform consistently across difficult stage races. His main responsibility will be to support Uijtdebroeks in the mountains, although he could receive more freedom if the team's GC ambitions change during the race.