The junior squad will feature a core group of twelve permanent riders this season.
Six cyclists have made the jump to top-level teams since this project was launched.
A former rider of the team, Brazilian Henrique Bravo, shone last week at the Clásica Camp de Morvedre wearing the colours of Soudal Quick-Step.
The countdown to the start of the Junior category season is nearing its end. In its third year in the youth peloton, Picusa Academy will have its first major event of the calendar with the opening round of the Spanish Cup in Don Benito (Badajoz) on February 21. After two campaigns filled with victories — a total of 44 — the Galician team will once again pursue an objective that goes beyond winning: continuing to serve as a launchpad to the professional ranks.
Since the project began, six riders have stepped up from junior competitions to teams at the highest level. One of them is Brazilian Henrique Bravo, who last Friday stood out at the opening of the European calendar in the Clásica Camp de Morvedre. Racing in the colours of Soudal Quick-Step, he lined up alongside WorldTour stars and finished the Valencian race among the top 20.
Henrique Bravo, 19, raced in 2024 with the team sponsored by the historic Picusa company from Padrón. That same season, he also earned an opportunity with a professional squad, as did Lois de Jesús. The reward achieved by these two cyclists has also been secured by four others at the end of last season. Santiago-born Diego López signed with Tavfer, Éric Igual joined Movistar Team Academy, while Enrique Maranchón and Omer Ramon became part of the NSN Development Team. With this Swiss structure, Xian Alvariño will begin training from this Friday onwards at the NSN camp being held in Alicante.
The year 2025 also marked Picusa Academy’s international consolidation, as the team competed for the first time in the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, often referred to as the “Tour de France” of the junior category. Looking ahead to the new season, the team management based in Mos has assembled a roster of twelve permanent riders, with additional guest riders joining at different points throughout the year. Seven cyclists have renewed their contracts, while five have been recruited through scouting at regional, national, and international levels. Siete corredores han renovado y cinco han sido captados a través del seguimiento realizado a nivel autonómico, estatal e internacional.
Los gallegos Xian Alvariño y Rodrigo García, los castellanoleoneses Hugo Muñoz y Adrián Prieto, el brasileño Dimas Mota y el argentino Nicolás Almada han apostado por seguir en la escuadra mosense para completar su etapa en el pelotón juvenil. Por su parte, el australiano Ryan O’Shaugnessy se une de manera permanente después de haber competido en las filas de Picusa Academy durante tres meses de la última campaña
The five new reinforcements will make their debut in the Junior category after standing out as cadets. Two of them are Galician: Breixo Cochón, from Poio Bike, and Lucas Blanco — Spain’s runner-up in the individual time trial — from Cambre. From the Valencian Community, Xavier Arnal (Juan Giner Ulevel Vitaldinsport) and Fran Gramage (Guerola-Ontinyent), a double medalist at the national Track Championships, have joined the squad. The other new addition, Vinicius Thor, arrives from Brazil.
