Benjamín Noval wins junior world time-trial title ahead of planned Ineos move in 2027

Benjamín Noval has erased the painful memory associated with the rainbow jersey by becoming junior world time-trial champion in Montreal, ahead of his planned move to Ineos in 2027. The 17-year-old Asturian, son of a former professional rider of the same name who was a domestique for Contador, had to wait for the final rival before celebrating the title.

He covered the 20.3 kilometres in Montreal in 25 minutes and 17 seconds, having pushed himself to the final pedal stroke, and was leading the standings. Belgian rider Vic De Smet was still on the course, the final threat to Noval, but crossed the line six seconds later. The rider from Laviana then raised his arms: he was junior world time-trial champion. That gold medal shows the scale of his talent, without telling his entire story.

Developed from his beginnings at Samuel Sánchez's MMR Academy, Noval now rides for Surne Bilbao before joining Netcompany Ineos. At home, he shares his name and many cycling conversations with his father. He particularly values his father pointing out his mistakes, saying that “everyone already sees the successes”.

The young rider also knows cyclocross: last winter, he finished fourth before returning to the road, where he combines climbing ability with a taste for time trials. Of the discipline, he says he likes its inescapable simplicity: “It is you against yourself and the road.” In Montreal, that approach took him to gold.

Fourth at the first intermediate checkpoint, Noval moved into the lead at the second and held his advantage to the finish. The win also closes the chapter left open the previous year: a crash had halted his ambitions and left him 11th in the time trial. Montreal was another opportunity in his final junior season. This time, he arrived at the decisive moment without incident and, when he looked at the clock, no crash stood between him and the rainbow jersey.

His name has long been mentioned among Spain's leading prospects, an expectation whose weight he understands. “In Spain, I feel the pressure that I have to win,” he admits. He prefers not to read too much about himself on social media and to focus on training, while balancing travel, training camps and races with his second year of baccalaureate studies.

Next year, Noval is due to join Ineos Grenadiers. He approaches that step with ambition, aware that he will encounter longer races, a different pace and a period of adaptation. He dreams of racing the Tour and perhaps winning a stage there one day, but his first objectives as a professional will be more immediate: helping the team, learning and beginning to make his place in an entirely new peloton.

For now, Montreal leaves the image of a 17-year-old rider able to manage his effort over 20.3 kilometres, come back in a world championship time trial and wait at the finish for Vic De Smet to cross six seconds behind him.