CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious have announced the signing of Spanish climber Cristian Rodríguez, who will join the team from 2027 on a two-year contract.
The 31-year-old brings more than a decade of professional experience and a strong record in mountainous stage races and grand tours.
Rodríguez has spent the 2026 season with the Kazakhstani UCI World Tour team XDS Astana.
A dedicated climber with extensive experience at the highest level, Rodríguez has established himself as a reliable presence in the mountains, both in support of general classification (GC) leaders and when given the opportunity to fight for his own results.
His grand tour experience includes multiple participations in La Vuelta a Espana, the Tour de France, and the Giro d’Italia, while he has also consistently performed at the front of prestigious stage races across Europe.
His 2026 campaign has further underlined his value as a high-level mountain specialist. Rodríguez finished second overall at the Tour of Oman, including a particularly memorable performance in support of teammate Christian Scaroni, and later finished eighth overall at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
Bahrain Victorious’ addition of Rodríguez further strengthens their climbing depth ahead of the 2027 season. His ability to support GC leaders, contribute to breakaways, and pursue his own opportunities gives the team a valuable option on demanding terrain.
“I’m very grateful for the confidence Bahrain Victorious are showing in me, and I’m really excited to join the family,” said Rodriguez. “I’m proud to bring my work ethic and experience to the team and to help them continue reaching their goals.
“For me, being part of a team means being ready to do whatever is needed. I want to help the team’s top riders in any way I can, especially in the mountains, and use my experience to support them in the biggest races. At the same time, when opportunities come for me, I’ll be ready to take them.
“I’m really motivated for this new chapter and looking forward to working hard together and contributing to the team’s success.”
Bahrain Victorious’ performance manager Rod Ellingworth commented: “Cristian brings a lot of experience and quality to our climbing group. He has spent many years racing at World Tour level and has shown consistently that he can perform in the high mountains, both when supporting a GC leader and when he has the opportunity to race for himself.
“We are very pleased to have him joining us for the next two seasons.”
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