Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe have added another piece to their long-term project with the signing of 22-year-old Haimar Etxeberria, who steps up to the WorldTour after an impressive breakthrough season in the Spanish development scene.
The move brings an early end to Etxeberria’s previous contract with Equipo Kern Pharma, which had been due to run until 2027. The German WorldTour squad has taken over the deal, although the exact new end date has not been disclosed.
A rider on a fast upward trajectory
Etxeberria has attracted interest from top-tier teams over the last two years, but his rapid progress in 2025 made the step inevitable. His first professional victory at the Vuelta a Castilla y León confirmed his readiness, delivered with a composed ride that demonstrated both tactical sense and the ability to finish strongly from a reduced group.
Across the wider season he put together a solid palette of results, including fourth at the Circuito de Getxo, fifth at the Tour de Vendée and top tens at the Circuit Franco-Belge and the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia. For a first full pro campaign, it was a body of work that firmly elevated him into the conversation as one of Spain’s brightest emerging riders.
A signing aligned with the team’s direction
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe view Etxeberria as a natural fit for their increasingly youth-focused model. Chief of Sports Zak Dempster outlined why the Spaniard was a priority signing.
“With Haimar, we are adding a rider who fits very well into our long-term vision,” Dempster said. “He is still in the early stages of his career, but his eagerness to learn and the talent he has already shown in one-day races and more selective sprint finishes speak for themselves. We are confident he will find the ideal environment here to keep developing his potential.”
Etxeberria eager for the step up
For Etxeberria, the move marks a significant milestone in a journey that has accelerated quickly since his U23 days with Caja Rural-Alea and EOLO-Kometa.
“I am very happy to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe,” he said. “From the first conversations, I felt real trust and a clear plan for how I can grow here. I am motivated for this new chapter and excited to contribute to the project. It is a team I have followed closely since the era of Peter Sagan, and to be part of a squad with some of the biggest stars is a special feeling. I am very grateful for the opportunity and for being able to make the step up to the WorldTour at 22 years old.”
Solid foundations and room to grow
Although young, Etxeberria already has some notable pedigree. Before turning professional, he collected victories at events such as the Xanisteban Saria, San Gregorio Saria, Prueba Loinaz and the Memorial Ángel Lozano, while also securing stages in the Volta a la Província de València and the Vuelta al Bidasoa.
His debut pro season added:
- 1st Vuelta a Castilla y León
- 4th Circuito de Getxo
- 5th Tour de Vendée
- 8th Circuit Franco-Belge
- 8th Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia
It is the profile of a rider who can handle demanding terrain and still produce a punch at the finish, an increasingly valuable trait in the modern peloton.
What comes next
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe are expected to take a measured approach with Etxeberria, offering opportunities across one-day races, smaller stage races and selected WorldTour blocks as he adapts to the demands of the calendar.
What is clear is that both rider and team view the move as a long-term investment. Etxeberria gets the platform he needs to accelerate his development, while Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe continue to assemble a squad built for sustained progression and depth.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a short companion piece on how Spanish development teams are feeding the 2026 transfer market.
Main photo credit: Sprint Cycling
