Between light and shadow: Junior World Champion Benjamin Noval avoided a ban because his coach was already suspended

It was only a few days ago that Benjamín Noval achieved something truly remarkable. After winning the junior individual time trial, he went on to claim the title in the road race as well. Only Evenepoel had previously achieved this double at the same World Championships, in Innsbruck in 2018. But immediately afterwards, other headlines were making the rounds.

In April 2024, when Noval was just 15 years old, he took part in a physiological test in Navacerrada. During the test, José “Pepe” Martí measured his lactate levels whilst the young rider completed repeated one-kilometre climbs to the car park of the Hotel Arcipreste de Hita. The problem? José Martí is banned due to his history of doping.

The link to Lance Armstrong

During the Armstrong era, Martí worked as a coach for the US Postal Service and Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Teams. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) sanctioned him for his involvement in the team’s doping programme. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later extended his ban to 15 years, which runs until June 2027. The CAS described Martí and team doctor Pedro Celaya as indispensable participants in the widespread doping system under Johan Bruyneel.

Benjamín Noval’s father, also called Benjamín, rode as a professional for more than a decade. He rode alongside Armstrong at US Postal and Discovery Channel before later becoming one of Alberto Contador’s most reliable support riders. The younger Noval subsequently developed his skills at the MMR Academy, run by Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez.

Investigations by the Spanish authorities

Spanish officials were already monitoring whether Martí was complying with his ban. When they approached the group in Navacerrada, they found Martí together with Noval and his father. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes commit a rule violation if they knowingly work with suspended support staff in a professional or sport-related capacity. It’s actually a clear-cut case...

El País reports that Spain’s anti-doping agency, CELAD, initially proposed an 18-month ban for Benjamín Noval, who is still competing in the cadet category. Noval acknowledged the mistake, explained that he had acted out of ignorance, and expressed remorse. His age and the circumstances of the incident were subsequently taken into account by CELAD and the disciplinary tribunal.

On 5 November 2025, more than a year after the Navacerrada test, the case was declared time-barred. The proceedings had exceeded the permitted 12-month processing period. These details, which are now coming to light again, do not suggest that a genuine investigation has taken place.

Benjamín Noval’s path to a WorldTour contract

Team Ineos Grenadiers had already announced in June 2025 that Noval would be joining the team in 2027. They signed a contract with the young rider when he was just 16 and had not yet completed his first junior season. The year 2025 brought victories at the Vuelta Ciclista al Besaya and the GP F.W.R. Baron.

​An old shadow hanging over a new world champion

​This case demonstrates once again why cycling has never quite been able to shake off its past. Almost two decades after the major doping scandals, the same names are still cropping up in connection with young talent. The issue here is not so much whether Benjamín Noval gained a sporting advantage as a result of the incident. Rather, the story casts a negative light on a sport that is still struggling to regain credibility to this day.

It is questionable to what extent a 15-year-old at the time can be held responsible for the situation. His father, on the other hand, must have been fully aware of the background to the case and José Martí’s ongoing ban. To have nevertheless placed his own son in such a situation appears to be grossly negligent. Benjamín Noval has demonstrated his extraordinary talent in Montréal by winning two World Championship titles. Yet instead of the focus being solely on his sporting achievements, attention is once again centred on his connection to one of cycling’s darkest chapters. This is as unfortunate for the young Spaniard as it is for the reputation of the sport as a whole.