Abner González Becomes First Puerto Rican WorldTour Pro
The Movistar Team confirmed Wednesday that Abner González will become a neo-pro with them in 2021, having signed a three-year contract (through the end of 2023).
A member of the Spanish peloton since becoming a junior with the Bathco team, with whom he won a stage and climbed onto the podium of the Vuelta al Besaya -the most prestigious Spanish race for U19 riders- in his first year in the category (2017), González came back to our country in 2020 after a short return to America last year, racing for the SoCal Cycling and Inteja squads and becoming the national elite road race champion, a title he still holds.
A breakthrough second half of the season after the pandemic stop has seen him completing many displays of strength in the best races of the amateur scene. He conquered the Torredonjimeno round of the Spanish Road Series, after a 40+km attack alongside team-mate Reuben Thompson -also a pro in 2021-; won the mountain ITT of the Vuelta a Alicante; and came 3rd at the biggest race of the elite-U23 calendar in Spain, the Memorial Valenciaga, after an impressive performance on his way to the Arrate summit.
González’s results are only a glimpse of the Puerto Rican’s talent, a great allrounder, with no fear to attack and lots of potential still to be discovered. Abner’s signing is the third for the men’s Movistar Team heading into 2021, after the confirmed additions of Iván García Cortina and Gregor Mühlberger.
Abner González: “It’s a dream come true. I can’t still believe I will be finishing such a difficult season in a way like this. I’m so grateful to both the Movistar Team, for the chance they’re giving me, and everyone who has supported me throughout my entire career up to this moment. It makes me so proud to know that I will be the first Puerto Rican rider to become a pro in cycling’s top tier. I hope to learn a lot from thie team in the upcoming years and hopefully become an important rider for both the team and in the peloton in the future.”
Eusebio Unzué: “We’ve had the chance to know Abner’s talents better this year, with his excellent performances in the Spanish amateur calendar. He’s proven to be a great allrounder, who does well in the most demanding races -as we saw in Torredonjimeno, with that long break, and his Valenciaga effort, so close to the win- and also performs strong in other terrains. With such young age, we feel like he’s got really great potential to succeed in Europe. It’s another gamble on our our future after so many signings in that direction in the last few years.”
Plus Renewals for Jacobs and Jorgenson
The Movistar Team announced Monday that Johan Jacobs (Berg am Irchel, SUI; 1997) and Matteo Jorgenson (Boise, ID, USA; 1999) have both extended their contracts with the Telefónica-backed outfit, already in place for next season, and will wear the Blue jersey at least through the end of the 2023 season.
With Johan and Matteo re-signing, the Movistar Team is securing two of the biggest talents in its current roster. Jorgenson, who was selected as a reserve for both the Giro and La Vuelta lineups, shone at his two maiden appearances in Monument classics, Milano-Sanremo (17th) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège -on the attack in the finale- while also making the front groups in other one-day events, such as the Gran Trittico Lombardo. His quality for tough courses and conditions has already been proven in his first WorldTour season.
In turn, Jacobs already enjoyed some great appearances in his most beloved races: the Northern Classics. Long into a counter-attack move at Gent-Wevelgem, he had the chance to debut in the Ronde van Vlaanderen; went on the move in the European Championships or the Settimana Coppi e Bartali -where he contested the KOM jersey-; and completed the season on a very high note, just off the podium (4th) in the Swiss Road Race Championships. Always with courage and fighting spirit.
For the 2021 season, the Movistar Team already has 25 confirmed names, the list still to be increased with both contract extensions and new additions. The current roster includes: Juan Diego Alba (COL), Jorge Arcas (ESP), Héctor Carretero (ESP), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Gabriel Cullaigh (GBR), Iñigo Elosegui (ESP), Imanol Erviti (ESP), Iván García Cortina (ESP), Abner González (PUR), Juri Hollmann (GER), Johan Jacobs (SUI), Matteo Jorgenson (USA), Lluís Mas (ESP), Enric Mas (ESP), Gregor Mühlberger (AUT), Mathias Norsgaard (DEN), Nelson Oliveira (POR), Antonio Pedrero (ESP), José Joaquín Rojas (ESP), Einer Rubio (COL), Sergio Samitier (ESP), Marc Soler (ESP), Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Carlos Verona (ESP) and Davide Villella (ITA).