García Cortina Leaves Movistar To Join Van Der Poel's Classics Block

Iván García Cortina will leave Movistar at the end of the 2026 season and join Alpecin-Premier Tech. The 30-year-old Spaniard closes a six-year spell with his country's leading WorldTour team to become part of one of the strongest squads in the spring Classics.

The Asturian rider joined Movistar in 2021 after previous spells with Bahrain and the former Etixx development programme. His most notable victory in the blue jersey came at the 2022 Gran Piemonte, while he also collected podium places and repeatedly represented the team on the cobbles and in fast, selective finishes.

At Alpecin, García Cortina is expected to reinforce the group built around Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. His strength, positioning and experience on difficult one-day terrain make him a valuable support rider for the Flemish Classics, although he could also receive personal opportunities in races suited to his characteristics.

The transfer is part of a wider renewal for Alpecin-Premier Tech. The team has also recruited sprinters Casper van Uden and Madis Mihkels for 2027, adding speed and depth around its established leaders.

For García Cortina, the move represents an opportunity to spend the next phase of his career in a structure specialised in the races he enjoys most. After six seasons in Spain, he will return to a more international environment with the stated ambition of competing at the highest level in the Classics.