Ineos Grenadiers Secure Agreement with 16-year-old Spanish Prodigy
Revamped Article:
Hailing from Spain, up-and-coming cycling sensation Benjamín Noval is inking a deal with Ineos Grenadiers, slated to join the powerhouse team in 2027 after a stint in the junior division. This 16-year-old prodigy, who currently rides for MMR Cycling Academy, has already made waves by notching a whopping 14 victories this season. He's reigned supreme in the General Classification and youth classification at both Vuelta Ciclista al Besaya and GP F.W.R Baron, and boasts the title of the reigning junior Spanish cyclo-cross champion.
Originally from Astuarias, Noval is following in the tire tracks of his father, former pro cyclist Benjamín Noval, who graced the cycling world from 2001 to 2013 on various teams, eventually concluding his career at Saxo-Tinkoff.
Over the next season and a half, the younger Noval will work with Ineos Grenadiers, moving full-time to the team at age 18 in 2027. Noval expressed his excitement, stating, "Joining Ineos Grenadiers is a dream come true for me. This is one of the best cycling teams in the world, and I'm very happy to join its ranks so they can help me develop my qualities to their full extent. I want to thank the team for believing in me, and I hope to pay them back in the near future."
Dr Scott Drawer, head of performance at Ineos Grenadiers, had nothing but glowing praise for the young recruit: "Benjamín has all the hallmarks of a rider who can develop into something very special. He's intelligent on the bike and driven off it, and he has already shown a real edge in competitive environments. We're excited to support his transition to the WorldTour and look forward to helping him fulfill his potential within our performance system."
John Allert, the team's CEO, echoed these sentiments: "At the heart of our team is a belief in long-term development and investing in the next generation of talent. Benjamín represents that future - and we're delighted he's chosen to grow and develop with us."
As Ineos Grenadiers continues fostering young talent, they've signed 18-year-old Michael Leonard in 2022 and AJ August at the same age last year. In the 2022 racing season, they partnered with German development team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank, offering riders Peter Øxenberg and Theodor Storm to join the squad temporarily. Both cyclists are set to return to Ineos Grenadiers in 2026.
The WorldTour is increasingly seeing teenage riders making their mark, as evidenced by Paul Seixas riding for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale this year. Previously, famous teenage cyclists like Remco Evenepoel, Quinn Simmons, and Juan Ayuso graced the WorldTour with their talent.
While it's essential to note that details about the 2027 team move could potentially be speculative or unavailable at this time, the future of cycling seems to be in good hands with rising stars like Benjamín Noval. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the world of professional cycling!
Benjamín Noval's upcoming move to Ineos Grenadiers in 2027 showcases the team's focus on nurturing young talent, emulating the success of previous recruits like Michael Leonard and AJ August. Sports enthusiasts can expect more emerging talents to make their mark in the WorldTour, such as the impressive Benjamín Noval, who is poised to shape the future of cycling.
