Netcompany-Ineos snap up Harold Tejada after seven seasons with XDS Astana

Netcompany-Ineos have confirmed the signing of Harold Tejada from XDS Astana for the 2027 season. 

The British team announced the signing of the 29-year-old Colombian on Friday afternoon, marking their second arrival of the day, following Markel Beloki from EF Education-EasyPost. 

Tejada will join Netcompany-Ineos after spending seven seasons with XDS Astana, having joined the Kazakh team from Medelllín in 2020. 

During his time at Astana, Tejada has claimed two professional victories: a stage at the Tour Colombia in 2024 and, more recently, a stage at Paris-Nice this season. The latter came after a late opportunistic attack on the run-in to Apt on stage 6.

That Paris-Nice success marks the highlight of one of the strongest seasons of Tejada's career to date. He also finished fourth overall at the UAE Tour, as well as tenth at the Vuelta a España, his 11th Grand Tour appearance.

“I’m very excited about this new chapter with Netcompany INEOS. Since I started cycling, I have always seen this team as a benchmark in the sport,” Tejada said in a Netcompany-Ineos statement. 

“I remember watching riders such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán and Sergio Henao with great admiration.”

Tejada is set to join forces with Bernal, whose future in the peloton had recently come into question after the 2019 Tour de France champion issued a statement on Thursday confirming that he has taken time to weigh up his future in the peloton. He explained that his intention “for now” is to compete next season.

Director of Racing Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour champion and runner-up in 2019 as Bernal's teammate, welcomed Tejada's arrival and highlighted his qualities as a teammate.. 

“Harold is a strong, solid climber with plenty of experience. He’s been consistently up there over the last few years, and he’ll be a great support to our GC rider,” said Thomas. 

“He adds depth to our climbing group and gives us more options in the mountains, so he’ll be really a valuable addition to the squad and we’re very excited to get working with him."

With the arrival of junior World champion Benjamin Noval for 2027 confirmed last year, alongside Friday's announcements of Beloki and Tejada, Netcompany-Ineos’ transfer activity is gathering pace as the current season draws to a close.