“A good year – but we were missing the icing on the cake”
“It’s been a good season,” Cortina explained. “I was up there in the classics, with a top ten in Flanders, I won in Asturias, and at both the Tour and the Vuelta I worked hard for the team. Everyone was happy.”
“From both a sporting and attitude point of view, it was really positive – though we were missing the icing on the cake: a stage win in a Grand Tour. We deserved one at the Tour or the Vuelta, but it didn’t come. Even so, we were competitive every day.”
Despite the lack of a headline result, the Movistar man insists morale within the team remains high. “In terms of attitude and commitment, it was a top year. The important thing is that the foundation is there. In 2026 we’ll try to turn that into victories.”
Cortina in action during 2025
Uijtdebroeks arrival brings optimism
One of the major boosts to Movistar’s confidence comes from their surprise winter signing – Cian Uijtdebroeks, poached from Team Visma | Lease a Bike in one of the transfer market’s biggest shocks.
“Cian’s signing was a complete surprise – we didn’t know anything,” said Cortina. “But it’s a fantastic addition. In the end, having more leadership options is a positive for the team. Enric and he can complement each other really well.”
The Belgian talent is seen as a potential future Grand Tour star, and with Mas back on track after injury, Movistar suddenly look far stronger than in recent seasons.
“Enric’s fine and motivated”
Cortina revealed that team leader Enric Mas is recovering quickly after his crash in late summer. “I was with Enric yesterday; he’s already walking. He’s got a few small cuts on his leg, but in about two weeks he’ll be training again. He’s fine and motivated.”
Mas, a multiple Grand Tour podium finisher, is set to lead Movistar again next season, supported by a deeper roster and growing belief that they can challenge Pogacar’s dominance.
“Pogacar isn’t unbeatable”
Asked about the world champion’s incredible run of form in 2024 and 2025, Cortina was quick to praise but refused to concede defeat.
“Pogacar is incredible. He’s on his way to becoming the greatest rider in history. We’re lucky to watch him, even if he keeps beating us,” he said. “But no, I don’t think he’s unbeatable. Some years everything goes perfectly, and the next maybe not.”
“We shouldn’t normalise the extraordinary – it only comes around once in a long while,” he added.
The rise of new talents
Cortina also had words of admiration for Isaac del Toro, the Mexican sensation who closed out his debut year with a string of victories. “Del Toro ended the season winning almost everything. You could already see his level from Australia,” Cortina said. “But people need to stop calling him or Seixas the next Pogacar – they’re themselves. Everyone has to follow their own path. The same goes for Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez.”
He warned against the pressure piled on young riders by comparisons to past greats. “People put huge expectations on them, saying they have to be the new Contador, and that brings unnecessary pressure. I went through that myself. There comes a point where you lose your way until you realise the important thing is to enjoy yourself, look after yourself, and work hard. If you do that, the results take care of themselves.”
Cortina plans to take a slightly later start to the next campaign as he eyes another consistent season. “I’d like to start a bit later, maybe in Mallorca or Castellón, and perhaps make my debut in Oman. Then Roubaix, a bit of rest, and a proper build-up for the second part of the year. This season I ended up with 87 days of racing and no mental fatigue – just a bit of physical tiredness. But I’m one of those people who, when I stop, I start climbing the walls and don’t know what to do without my bike.”
With Mas on the mend, Uijtdebroeks arriving, and morale high, Movistar enter 2026 determined to prove that Tadej Pogacar’s reign is not as inevitable as it seems.