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Patxi Vila to add his experience to the Movistar Team

Spaniard comes back to his first team as a pro cyclist, becomes a member of the Telefónica-backed squad as Head of Performance, covering key functions into the diverse sporting areas of Eusebio Unzué’s team

The Movistar Team confirmed Monday that Patxi Vila (Vera de Bidasoa, ESP; 1975) will be part of its staff, starting in 2020, as Head of Performance. A pro cyclist for ten years between the iBanesto.com (2001-02), Lampre (2003-08) and De Rosa (2011-12) squads, Vila has also ammassed invaluable experience alongside big riders as a member of Tinkoff (2015-16) and Bora-Hansgrohe (2017-19), other than performance specialist for bike manufacturer Specialized (2013-2014).

Through all these years, already before becoming a pro rider and both during my sporting and technical careers, I’ve always held the Movistar Team as a reference,” Vila explains. “It’s my home team, and the place where my idols made a name for themselves, such as Pedro Delgado or Miguel Indurain. I’ve spent three wonderful seasons as part of the Bora-Hansgrohe squad, supporting the team’s sporting success, and in this moment of profound transformations the Movistar Team is currently undergoing, I thought it was the right time to come back home.”

I want to support the team with my work experience after having gathered knowledge across all areas one can be part of as a team member – I’ve been a professional cyclist, worked for riders as a coach, acted as a sports director and made all sorts of technical adjustments as part of a brand producing bikes and components. Because of all that, I feel like my main role here will be making things easier for everyone I work with, both riders and staff, and support the team’s overall operation.

Combined with that, the fact that I can get back to working near my home, close to my loved ones, and spending time into a team with people who speak Spanish,is something really important for me from a personal standpoint. It’s an easier atmosphere, a culture I’m more used to, which helps you work better. I’m so grateful to Eusebio and all of my team-mates for the warm welcome, and can’t wait to get going and help the team continue to build this new path to success.