Alejandro Valverde is back.

After retiring at the end of 2022, Movistar's Valverde will form a new Movistar Gravel team and begin racing again in Almeria, Spain, in late April. Movistar announced the new team, led by Valverde, on Tuesday. The Movistar Gravel Squad will include road pro Ivan Garcia Cortina, as well as Britain's Hayley Simmons and Spain's Ana Dilana, who have raced for Movistar's "e-racing" team.

Since retiring from World Tour racing with Movistar, Valverde has served as "liaison officer," coordinating team interaction between riders and staff.

He ended his career at Il Lombardia last fall, but remained in good physical condition and was seen training with his former teammates in January.

The first two events for Movistar's gravel team will be "Indomable" in Almeria, southeastern Spain, on Sunday, April 23, in which Valverde will compete, and "La Traka" in Girona, Catalonia, on Saturday, April 29.

Movistar has stated that it will add both new names and events to its team registration and calendar in the near future.

Spanish apparel brand Gobik has developed a new kit for the Movistar Gravel Squad. The kit includes brown shorts and a deep blue jersey.