Published on : 11/06/2026
Cofidis are strengthening their staff ahead of next season with the arrival of José Luis Arrieta. A former professional rider and exemplary team-mate, the Basque has built up a wealth of experience as a directeur sportif at Movistar. He is now looking forward to putting his expertise at the service of the Cofidis team.
He is a well-known figure in the peloton, a familiar face to cycling fans who have seen him at the world's most prestigious races for many years. Now 55, José Luis Arrieta was a professional rider from 1993 to 2010. After spending thirteen seasons with the iBanesto.com team, he joined AG2R La Mondiale, where he was able to further hone his French, which he now speaks fluently.
Ten years of experience at Movistar
One year after retiring from professional cycling, José Luis Arrieta began his career as a directeur sportif. Over the seasons, he became one of the key figures within the Spanish team, working in particular alongside Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana. After ten years with Movistar, José Luis Arrieta is now embarking on a new challenge. There is no doubt that his experience, race craft and tactical acumen will be major assets in helping Cofidis achieve its ambitions. His arrival also strengthens the Basque contingent within the team's directeur sportif staff, alongside Bingen Fernandez and Gorka Gerrikagoitia.
Quotes
José Luis Arrieta:
“Gorka Gerrikagoitia was the first person to tell me about the opportunity to join the team. From my very first conversations with him and Raphaël Jeune, I quickly realised that we were on the same wavelength. I have great respect for the project that is taking shape and for the way everyone wants to help the team grow. I like to think of myself as a demanding directeur sportif, but above all, I am demanding of myself. I am really looking forward to getting to know the riders and my new colleagues and starting work on next season!”
Raphaël Jeune, Sports Manager:
“We are delighted to welcome José Luis Arrieta to the team. He has gained extensive experience at UCI WorldTour level with his previous teams. He knows the most prestigious races on the calendar and knows how to find the right words to support the riders. José Luis is a highly professional, meticulous and detail-oriented sports director. We are very excited to have him join us and look forward to working together!”