The 19-year-old twins from Cantabria will join the Women’s WorldTour Movistar team in 2024 for the next 3 years. They’ve both had strong results in the lower-level Spanish non-UCI races. Movistar Team confirms its intent to secure the future of Spanish women’s cycling by announcing the signing of Laura and Lucía Ruiz Pérez. The twins have joined from Eneicat – CM – Sports Insurance team, the twins will now race in the WorldTour on a contract lasting three seasons – ending in 2026.
Starting their cycling careers at five years old, both Laura and Lucía have made a name for themselves by clinching numerous titles in the lower categories. They competed as juniors for the Rio Miera team, Lucía won three international stage races in the UCI Nations Cup at Gévaudan in 2022 and at the Bizkaikoloreak in Abadiño for two consecutive years. Laura earned the title of junior national road champion in Valladolid.
In 2023, their first year as U23 riders, the twins have already completed two WorldTour races: Vuelta a Burgos and the Vuelta Femenina. At the Vuelta Femenina, Lucía showed great form during the toughest stages of the race. She also went on to clinch the overall elite and U23 Spanish Cup with stage wins in Noja and Beasain.
“One always has goals and deadlines in mind to achieve them, but when opportunities like this come along, they can’t be turned down. Joining a Spanish team makes things much easier, and feeling so comfortable, supported, and having them trust in you as they have since they invited us to the team’s training camp in Alicante last December. That has been the main reason we decided to go with Movistar Team. I would describe myself as someone who fares well in medium mountain stages, and that in small groups I might have a chance due to a certain burst of speed. Even in this first year in elite-U23, I have managed to move well within the peloton, and I think that will benefit me in the future to be at the front in decisive moments or in complicated areas. I am very young and have many things to learn and improve; everything will come in time.”
Lucía Ruiz Perez
“The treatment and trust that the team has placed in us from the very beginning has motivated us a lot. Opening the doors to the entire structure from the start, understanding how it works, getting to know the team has facilitated the relationship and this signing. Both Lucía and I are very young and have a long way to go and develop; Movistar Team is a good place to discover together how far we can go. I am someone who ‘needs’ medium mountain routes, with a certain gradient, to feel comfortable and leave behind the more flat-terrain riders or sprinters. I like more twisty, narrow courses; places where a certain level of skill is required. I am someone who likes to race as a team, help control race situations and take advantage of the group.”
Laura Ruiz Perez
