The professional cyclist is returning to his roots in Estepona, where his career began, debuting a jersey created by his son inspired by the municipality’s image. He will compete in prestigious events like the Titan Desert, the Titan Patagonia, and the Sea Otter Festival. Luis Ángel Maté, hailing from Malaga, will showcase Estepona’s name in various national and international gravel cycling competitions in 2026. After a successful career as a pro cyclist, he is now focusing on this discipline, along with mountain biking. The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, showed his support for Maté by attending the presentation of the jersey designed for the season. He emphasized the significance of this collaboration in promoting the municipality internationally through values like sportsmanship, dedication, and perseverance. Maté’s 2026 jersey follows the creative theme from the previous year, featuring a design by his son inspired by Estepona’s tagline, ‘Garden of the Costa del Sol’. This year’s design incorporates more vibrant colors to enhance visibility and safety for cyclists on the road. Maté’s 2026 sporting calendar includes challenging races like the Skoda Titan Desert Morocco, the Titan Patagonia, and the Sea Otter cycling festival in California. The mayor praised Maté’s illustrious 17-year cycling career, which included competing in top-tier events like the Vuelta Ciclista a España and the Tour de France. Maté expressed his excitement about representing Estepona once again, reminiscing about his early days at the Virgen del Carmen Cycling Union and the crucial role played by Juan Antonio López Baeza in his development. Following his retirement from professional cycling, Maté has embraced a different approach to the sport, focusing on disciplines like gravel cycling, which he describes as more social, intimate, and welcoming. Throughout this new season, Maté will have the continued support of the Estepona City Council and partnerships with brands like Orbea, Ekoi, and Etxeondo.