The Gran Canaria Bike Team and the Eibar Cycling Club have signed a collaboration agreement to promote the development of young Canarian and Basque cyclists.
The Gran Canaria Bike Team (GCBT) and Club Ciclista Eibar, one of the most emblematic entities in Basque cycling, have signed a sports collaboration agreement that will allow the creation of a mixed U-23 Elite team, under the name Gran Canaria – EKD Bike Team, aimed at promoting the development and national projection of young cyclists from the Canary Islands and the Basque Country.
The agreement, signed yesterday at the headquarters of the Eibar Cycling Club, represents a decisive step in inter-regional cooperation between two projects with a common philosophy: to educate people through cycling and offer real opportunities for athletic growth to riders who aspire to compete at the highest level of Spanish cycling.
A sporting bridge between the Canary Islands and the Basque Country
Thanks to this agreement, the Canary Islands riders of the GCBT will be able to compete regularly on the national calendar, taking on the country's top events—including the Vuelta a Bidasoa, the Vuelta a Navarra, the Valenciaga Memorial, and the Legazpi Classic, all of which count toward the Elite-U23 Spanish Cup—sharing a team with Basque cyclists in a joint technical and logistical structure.
As Yojanan Reyes, sports director of the GCBT, explains:
"The only way for a Canarian rider to grow is through competition. This agreement allows us to open the door to the best races on the national scene, where their level and progress are truly measured. It's a unique opportunity for our young talents to continue developing in a highly competitive environment."
A historic club at the service of training
The Eibar Cycling Club, founded over a century ago and celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, is a benchmark in Basque and national cycling. Throughout its history, it has had men's and women's teams and, since 1995, has continuously maintained its Elite-U23 structure, having competed with various sponsors in the main events on the national calendar.
Riders who later made the leap to professional cycling have passed through its ranks, such as Aitor Hernández and Ametz Txurruka, symbols of youth development and a commitment to the comprehensive development of young athletes.
Currently, the Eibarense Club regularly competes in the Euskaldun and Lehendakari Trophies, in addition to participating in the country's main tours, such as Zamora, Navarra, and Bidasoa, among others.
Galder Lasuen, president of the Eibar Cycling Club, highlighted during the signing:
“We've been committed to cycling training for three decades. This agreement excites us because it unites two projects with common values: training cyclists, but above all, training people. The arrival of Canarian riders will bring diversity, talent, and a fresh vision that enriches the group.”
The drive of Canarian cycling towards the highest level
For its part, the Gran Canaria Bike Team, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has consolidated a comprehensive development model in recent years, encompassing everything from youth and cadet categories to the U-23 level, combining training, scientific methodology, individualized planning, and development programs.
Its goal is to break down the geographical barriers that have historically limited Canarian cyclists' access to the peninsular calendar, creating a professionalized structure that allows them to compete with the best teams in Spain.
The Gran Canaria club, led by Yojanan Reyes, fosters dozens of young talents each year, supported by a specialized coaching staff and a plan that combines athletic performance with the runner's personal and academic growth.
"For us, this agreement is not only a sporting step, but also a human and educational one. We want Canarian cyclists to compete, learn, and evolve with the best, but without losing the values that make this sport great: sacrifice, respect, and teamwork," Reyes added.
A strategic alliance for the future
This agreement represents a pioneering model of cooperation between clubs from different autonomous communities, integrating the experience of Basque cycling with the expansion of Canarian cycling in an alliance based on training, opportunity, and sporting excellence.
