Colombian cyclist Santiago Umba (Arcabuko, 2002) will join Caja Rural-Seguros RGA next season to strengthen the team's climbing roster. At just 23 years old, the South American climber already boasts considerable experience gained over six seasons racing with various teams and professional levels, including a year in the WorldTour with XDS-Astana.

Throughout his career, Umba has shown flashes of his talent, but 2026 was the year he found the consistency and regularity needed to compete in his best professional season. His results prove this, with victories in the Austrian GP Vorarlberg, characterized by demanding climbs, and in the fourth stage of the Tour of the Magnificent Qinghai, where he beat Jan Castellon in a sprint. He also won the queen stage of the recent Tour of Kahramanmaraş, finishing second in the general classification, and the Turkish classic Ordu Black Sea Classic. Additionally, he finished third overall at the Istrian Spring Tour in Croatia, second 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 has also demonstrated a particular aptitude for challenging and undulating terrain. He is comfortable both on circuits with short climbs and rolling terrain, and in finishes with reduced groups where, despite his build, he has shown impressive speed. A rider with considerable room for improvement, Umba joins Caja Rural-Seguros RGA with the ambition to continue his growth and move closer to his full potential over the next two seasons.

What convinced you most to join Caja Rural-Seguros RGA?
«I feel I still have a lot of room for improvement as a rider and I believe that a project like Caja Rural-Seguros RGA is the perfect environment to continue this growth path. This was the main reason I decided to sign, along with the team's long history in this sport».

How would you assess your professional career so far?
«I've had very positive moments and others more difficult, but I've learned a lot from the entire journey. I feel increasingly comfortable 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 someone who doesn'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 achieve excellent results in difficult finishes».

What have you learned during your years in Europe and how do you think you've grown as a rider?
«Cycling is a very demanding sport. You have to work hard, but at the same time you have to find a pace that you can maintain for a long time. This has been the most important lesson I've learned so far: learning to work in order to maintain a very high pace consistently».

What goals have you set for yourself for the next professional season?
«I want to earn as many UCI points as possible and maintain a high level throughout the season. My goal is to be consistent and competitive from the start».