Fernando Barceló will remain with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA for the 2027 season after agreeing a contract extension that will take him into a sixth consecutive year with the Spanish ProTeam. Caja Rural confirmed the renewal on Tuesday, keeping one of the most experienced and versatile riders in its current squad.
Barceló joined Caja Rural in 2022 after two seasons with Cofidis and has since become a regular presence in the team’s biggest races. The 30-year-old from Huesca has often been used as both a protected rider and a senior road presence, with his strongest performances coming on rolling and hilly terrain rather than in one narrowly defined role.
His 2026 spring showed that range clearly. Barceló finished eighth at Brabantse Pijl, sixth at the Tour du Finistère and 10th at the Ronde van Limburg, while also recording top-20 finishes at Itzulia Basque Country and La Flèche Wallonne. He also completed Amstel Gold Race in one of the leading groups, giving Caja Rural another rider capable of staying involved deep into difficult one-day races.
Barceló fought back from elbow fracture
The second half of his season was interrupted by a crash on stage 3 of the Tour of Qinghai, where Barceló fractured his elbow. The injury kept him out of competition for around two months and removed much of the summer block from his programme.
He returned at the Giro d’Abruzzo in September and has gradually rebuilt his race rhythm through the Italian autumn calendar. His final outings of the year are scheduled to come at the Giro del Veneto on Wednesday and the Veneto Classic on Sunday, giving him another chance to finish the season strongly before turning towards 2027.
The renewal gives Caja Rural continuity in a part of the squad where experience still matters. Barceló can race for his own result when the terrain suits him, but he is equally useful in supporting teammates and helping organise the group in long one-day races or stage races. That balance has become more valuable as the team has expanded its calendar and taken on a broader programme of ProSeries and WorldTour events.
Caja Rural continue to retain core riders
Barceló’s extension follows a series of renewals as Caja Rural shape their 2027 roster. The team have already confirmed that several established riders will continue, while Fernando Gaviria has also extended for 2027. The approach gives the squad a stable core around which it can continue to develop younger riders.
For Barceló, 2027 will be his sixth season in green and the longest spell he has spent with any professional team. After an interrupted second half to 2026, the immediate aim will be to complete his return to full condition and re-establish the consistency that produced a strong run of results during the spring.
