Antonio Pedrero (1991) was recognized at the awards session of the Catalan Cycling Federation held on Saturday at the headquarters of the National Institute of Physical Education in Barcelona. At 24, he will become the fifth Catalan rider in the WorldTour as he joins Joaquim Rodriguez, Alberto Losada, David de la Cruz and Marc Soler who will be his teammate at Movistar.

The chance came as a surprise to him and his team as he was ready to continue with the Dominican Inteja-MMR team which had given him the chance to join a continental team in the second half of the season after four years with the Lizarte amateur team. At Manolo Azcona's team he proved to be one of the most consistent Spanish climbers on the amateur scene with wins in Cantabria and Navarra despite his misfortune with injuries. In an interview with BiciCiclismo, he decribed his expectations for the highest level of cycling.

"It was a surprise," he said. "The truth is that I did not expect it. Actually I had never had contact with them before I signed."

"I wanted to continue with Inteja. I wanted to try it for a couple of years and if a team from the first or second division did not show interest, I would hang up the bike."

Pedrero recently got his first impression of the team at a gathering in Pamplona.

"It was very good," he said. "For me it was very hard to get there, I was surprised. I already had contact with four or five teams but nothing came out of it. To get to know these people who have spent so many years in cycling, was nice."

"At the moment I have been told that I will start in the Majorca Challenge, but nothing is certain."

Like most other neo-pros, he has modest ambitions for his debut season.

"I want to adjust to the category and the team, trying to work for them all much as I can. I do not plan to win. I will be at there disposal where they want me," he said.

Pedrero has fond memories of his time at Inteja.

"I was treated very well," he said. "I did not expect it to be like that in the team. It was very serious, a small team with serious people, and I am very grateful for the opportunity they gave me."

He got a good result in the Tour de Guadeloupe where he won a stage and finished on the podium.

"The experience there was fine," he said. "It was a very well organized with many amateur races. It was really a good race," he said about the event that played a big role in his move to the WorldTour.