Race news
Giovanni Visconti returns to Movistar as team unveils major staff reshuffle for 2027
Former rider takes on sports director role as Spanish WorldTour team announces new appointments across racing, performance and medical departments.
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Movistar
Movistar have unveiled their sporting structure for 2027, with former rider Giovanni Visconti returning as a sports director following the departures of several experienced figures, including Matt White and Max Sciandri.
The Spanish WorldTour team confirmed the appointments on Monday, with Sebastián Unzué retaining overall responsibility for the racing, performance and medical departments across the men's team, women's team and development Academy.
Visconti, who raced for Movistar between 2012 and 2016, will also help identify and recruit young talent alongside his duties as sports director.
He will be joined on the men's sporting staff by Jon Armendáriz, who arrives after several seasons as a sports director at Equipo Kern Pharma.
Chente García Acosta will lead racing operations for the men's team and Academy, while Kelvin Dekker will oversee the same department for the women's team.
The women's squad also welcomes Aida Nuño as a sports director, with the Spaniard joining from UAE Team ADQ.
Experienced figures depart Movistar
The changes follow a series of departures from Movistar's sporting management, including White, whose exit comes after just one season with the Spanish squad.
The experienced Australian joined Movistar ahead of 2026 after a lengthy spell at Jayco AlUla and was appointed joint head of racing alongside García Acosta. His contract was not renewed, however, and he has since secured a move to EF Education-EasyPost for 2027.
Sciandri is also leaving Movistar after eight seasons with the Spanish squad. The former professional joined the team's management staff in 2019 and he guided Richard Carapaz to Giro d'Italia victory in his first season.
Elsewhere, the former Movistar sports director José Luis Arrieta has joined Cofidis for 2027.
The 55-year-old spent a decade as on the staff at Movistar, regularly serving as lead sports director, before his contentious departure at the end of 2021.
Arrieta later worked as a sports director with Decathlon in 2024 and 2025. His move to Cofidis was confirmed on Friday, with the French team highlighting his extensive WorldTour experience and tactical knowledge.
His son, Igor Arrieta, won a stage of the Giro d'Italia for UAE Team Emirates-XRG this year, and he will join Lidl-Trek in 2027.
