Team Bahrain Victorious is pleased to announce the signing of Ibon Ruiz on a two-year contract. The 27-year-old Basque climber and breakaway specialist will join the the team for the 2027 season on a two-year deal.
Ruiz, born on January 30, 1999, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, has spent his entire career to date developing within Equipo Kern Pharma. Over recent seasons, he has built a strong reputation as an offensive, hard-working rider who regularly attacks on demanding hilly terrain and works in support of team ambitions.
His move to the highest level of professional cycling comes on the back of consistency and notable performances, including a victory at the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, and a runner-up finish on the overall classification at the Route d’Occitanie in 2026. These results demonstrate his ability to contend alongside top-tier climbers on high-altitude routes.
Throughout his progression in the ProTeam ranks, Ruiz has consistently shown his versatility across one-day races and stage-race classifications. His career highlights include a 3rd-place podium at the 2025 Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior, winning the Mountains Classification at both the 2024 Vuelta a Asturias and the 2021 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, and earning the Stage 5 Combativity Award during his Grand Tour debut at the 2024 Vuelta a España.
Ibon Ruiz commented on the step-up to the WorldTour:
“I’m very happy and grateful to be joining a team like Bahrain Victorious. It’s a team with great role models for me, such as Pello Bilbao.
I’m really looking forward to meeting the whole team, starting to work together and taking on the next season with great excitement.”
Bahrain Victorious Performance Manager Rod Ellingworth added:
“We have been monitoring Ibon’s progression closely. He is an aggressive, dedicated rider who fits perfectly into our squad strategy for the upcoming seasons.
Whether he is attacking from long-range breakaways or setting the pace on demanding climbs, his work attitude and climbing consistency will add significant depth to our team in both stage races and one-day events.”
By securing Ruiz through the end of the 2028 season, Team Bahrain Victorious continues to reinforce its engine and mountain depth across both stage-hunting and Grand Tour support setups.
