Wednesday 26 august 2026 - Colombian rider Santiago Umba (Arcabuco, 2002) will join Caja Rural-Seguros RGA next season to bolster the team’s climbing group. At 23, the South American climber already brings considerable experience from six seasons racing across different professional teams and levels, including a year in the WorldTour with XDS-Astana.

Throughout his career, Umba has shown flashes of his ability, but 2026 has been the year in which he has found the consistency and regularity to put together his best season as a professional. His results are proof of that, with victories at the hilly Austrian GP Vorarlberg and Stage 4 of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai, where he beat Jan Castellon in the sprint to the line. He also won the queen stage of the recent Tour of Kahramanmaraş, finishing second overall, as well as the Turkish Ordu Black Sea Classic. In addition, he finished third overall at Croatia’s Istrian Spring Tour, was runner-up at the Trofeo Alcide Degasperi, sixth at the Gran Premio Beiras and eighth at the Giro dell’Appennino.

Umba is a rider who thrives in the mountains, but he has also shown a particular aptitude for tough, undulating courses. He is equally comfortable on circuits featuring short climbs and rolling terrain, as well as in reduced-group finishes where, despite his size, he has demonstrated an impressive turn of speed. A rider with plenty of room for further development, Umba joins Caja Rural-Seguros RGA with the ambition of continuing his progression and getting closer to his full potential over the next two seasons.

Interview with Santiago Umba

What convinced you most about joining Caja Rural-Seguros RGA?

I feel that I still have a lot of room to improve as a rider, and I believe a project like Caja Rural-Seguros RGA will be the perfect environment to continue that development. That was the main reason I decided to sign, along with the team’s long-standing history in the sport.

How would you assess your professional career so far?

I’ve had some very good moments and some more difficult ones, but I’ve learned a lot from the whole process. I feel increasingly settled in Europe, and I’m more motivated than ever to stay here and build a long career.

How would you describe yourself as a rider to those who don’t know you?

I’m a versatile rider. I’m a climber, but I also have good explosiveness, which allows me to fight for victories and strong results in difficult finishes.

What have you learned during your years in Europe, and how do you feel you have developed as a rider?

Cycling is a very demanding sport. You have to work hard, but at the same time you need to find a pace that you can sustain for a long time. That has been my biggest lesson so far: learning to work towards being able to maintain a very high pace consistently.

What goals are you setting for your next season as a professional?

I want to score as many UCI points as possible and maintain a high level throughout the season. My goal is to be consistent and competitive from the very beginning.