Spanish cycling giants Movistar Team will make its maiden appearance at Tour du Rwanda in 2026, organisers have confirmed.

The 18th edition of the race is scheduled for February 22 to March 1, 2026.

Tour du Rwanda Coordinator Hubert Nkurayija told Times Sport that Movistar is among 18 teams that have already confirmed their participation.

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"We will have big teams in the race, and we believe that the event will be even better, more entertaining and joyful than previous editions. Tour du Rwanda is growing year after year, and we want it to move to another level,” Nkurayija said.

Founded in 1980, Movistar Team is widely regarded as the longest-standing and most successful team in the UCI World Tour.

Over the decades, it has evolved through iconic identities such as Reynolds and Banesto before taking on the Movistar name, backed by Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica, whose sponsorship now runs through 2029.

The team boasts some of the most accomplished riders in modern cycling, including Spaniard Nairo Quintana, Enric Mas, and Fernando Gaviria. Quintana, 35, was playing for Movistar Team when he won the Vuelta a España in 2016.

Several other renowned cyclists have passed through the team, among them is Ecuadorian Olympian Richard Carapaz who rode for the team before going on to win the Giro d’Italia in 2019.

Beyond its World Tour men’s squad, Movistar has expanded into a broad multi-disciplinary structure that includes a Women’s World Tour team, a development academy, an eTeam, and a Gravel Squad.