2026 Team Rumors

I’d ask for my money back if I could…

Jokes, love your work, keep it up. 

Yeah - be realistic FFS, Rachel would only podium at best right now!

Whats that got to do with it?

Accel Group is said to merge its racing teams.

Ghost XC Racing, this one, all under the Lapierre brand name.

Ghost focuses on some freeriders and on surviving as a brand.

In addition to coming back to gravity racing with Team Axess, Nukeproof will also join the XC World Cup circus now as part of Team KMC. We'd say this makes perfect sense, as the Nukeproof brand is far more likely to capitalize and convert on the MTB buzz in XC now (a discipline that is getting gnarlier and more fun to watch with each passing year) than Ridley.

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Nukeproof to go XC racing with Team KMC Nukeproof

KMC will remain the main and title sponsor for the coming years on our road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games

Nukeproof joins as Bike Partner and new second title sponsor - we continue our Mission Part 5! We are happy and proud to announce that KMC will remain the main sponsor of our international mountain bike Team in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Since 2017, we have been working with KMC, the world’s largest chain manufacturer, and have achieved great results and also worked structurally on the Team’s development. After enjoying riding Ridley for the past few years and achieving great success, it is time for a change.

For the next three years, the Team will ride the new brand of the Belgian Cycling Factory, Nukeproof. An American brand of origin, founded in 1990, even before mountain biking became an Olympic sport (Atlanta, USA, 1996). The sport of mountain biking also began in the 1970s in Marin County, California. Nukeproof, whose tagline is ‘it’s an attitude’ are renowned for innovative, high quality bikes and brings a rich race pedigree in gravity and enduro to the team. We find the perfect fit in that.

Christ Bakker, Managing Director KMC Chain Europe N.V.:
“KMC welcomes Nukeproof and is proud to support the brand’s debut in XCO. Following Jochim Aerts’ acquisition of the iconic Nukeproof name, KMC sees this as a powerful statement from Belgium. Both KMC and Belgian Cycling Factory are firmly grounded with stable, reliable market
strategies. Their long-standing partnership now enters a new phase—one that will strengthen all stakeholders of the KMC–Nukeproof MTB XCO Team.”

Jochim Aerts, Managing Director Belgium Cycling Factory:
“Belgian Cycling Factory is proud of its continued partnership with KMC and the launch of the KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team. With Nukeproof fully integrated within BCF, we significantly strengthen our MTB engineering capabilities. Together with our athletes and the technical team, we are excited to convert racing knowledge and shared expertise into the next level future Nukeproof products driving performance from the race course
directly into the bikes of tomorrow”

Clive Gosling, Global Brand Director Nukeproof:
“Nukeproof is a brand usually associated with the burlier side of mountain biking; Enduro, dirtjump and downhill are the arenas you normally see our brand, but we are stoked to jump into XC at the highest level with this new venture with KMC and Bart Brentjens. We are excited to bring the innovative spirit and radical attitude of Nukeproof to the XC race scene”.

Bart Brentjens, Teammanager KMC Nukeproof Mountainbike Racing Team:
“Next year is a crucial year on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. We are therefore incredibly proud and happy to be partnering with our main sponsor KMC and, with our 'new' bike supplier Nukeproof, for the next three years. The fact that we'll be riding with Nukeproof in 2026, gives us a fantastic head start. Together with KMC and Nukeproof, we can work in the coming years to achieve perfect unity, and collaboration between
the team's riders, mechanics, sponsors, and suppliers. Everything has to be right if you want to achieve the very best performance, and with this
long-term commitment from our core partners, we can further strengthen that foundation. We're already looking forward to the start of the new season and the road together towards 2028! We are proud to share our new official team logo”.

- The Olympic Games in Los Angeles will be held July 14 to Sunday July 30, 2028 -

With our Team, we started Mission Part 5 in January 2025. Mission Part 5 is a four-year cycle that works towards the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, 2028. The next Olympic Summer Games in 2028, will bring back mountain biking to its roots where it all started, in California USA. LA2028 will be the first Olympic Games back in the USA, after the Centennial Games of Atlanta 1996, where mountain biking became an Olympic discipline.

I didn't know she had baby number 2 on the way... I'd say that's a really good reason to not race.. Congrats to them!

Bruni wearing Alpinestars gear in latest RBbike post....sign of things to come? Or AI gone weird?

I assume it is not really profitable for Specialized to keep running their high-end clothing line for MTB and probably they are going to ditch that effort - I don't think that has to do anything with the relationship of Loic and Spec. AStars seems to be a good move for all parties involved. But sure thing, it could be an AI glitch as you have mentioned  

Not the main team, but I saw yesterday that they're offering support to Arleigh Kemp, a young Canadian (not yet a junior?) woman. 

Atherton

I’ve had the opportunity to watch her race in western Canada in the Dunbar Summer Series, Canadian Nationals, she’s a ripper! With the right support she could be our next Canadian woman at WCs 

Would you rather a lorry full of cubes or a cube full of Laurie’s?

Bruni has been wearing Alpinestars protection for ages so possibly  just a link to that deal.

Vali just posted that she’s off Sweet Protection due to new team sponsorship deals.. don’t think I’ve seen anyone make a post like that before?

MTB adjacent, but Dylan Stark is sponsored by Stranger BMX now. How many riders have multiple bike sponsors? If I remember correctly, he re-signed with YT, right? 

Also, I just double checked the YT site and they have NOT updated their athletes. Still have Vali, Kolb, Oisin, Tippie and everyone else still listed as part of The MOB. (at least on the North American site)

That is... Very strange, indeed. As somebody who used to work in the industry, and covered Dylan when he was being underrated in the BMX world... I'm surprised he went back there. I wonder if that means re-releasing the Ironmane frame or what. His username is still Ironmane on pinkbike.

I feel like when it comes to the Tip Plus brands and Rich you're either fully in or out, in terms of dealing with those people. And I had thought Stark was burned and would have committed to being out. But I guess Rich is out so that means... New ownership? Haven't followed BMX closely in years.

As a general Stark fan I can't help but say I wish he went elsewhere... But it was basically a backyard brand for him and he would have been close with most of the dudes. Hopefully he at least doesn't break their parts over and over because those bikes really ain't built for Stark riding. MOST BMX brands don't quite build for Stark riding. He was better off when he was on FBM's Take frames lol

Some insights onto what Nukeproof Axess Racing will be running next year: 

Looks like RockShox, Leatt Gear, Schwalbe Tires, SRAM (?) 

I'm curious to see how she makes her Adidas Five ten deal work and the Saalbach issue too. She's definitely not stoked to have to pull outta of personal deals mid term just to make the commencal deal work. But needs must etc..

Laurie Cubeland 

I could be reading this wrong, but looks like Brage and GT are officially over. Surprised it took this long for an actual announcement, but maybe they wanted to wait for all the Trolldom stuff to be released first? Maybe?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSnyhjoDLrr/?igsh=MTJzb2Vhcm5obDJtbg==

(breathing heavily)

'plz be a real brand, plz be free ride relevant'

i've had anxiety about where Brage goes since GT paused. having to wait an entire year has NOT helped. have to imagine his stock allows him to go anywhere basically. having no inkling of a guess doesn't help either cuz he's such an independent entity. he doesn't hang out specifically with any particular group. just a self-sufficient viking... looking for a new Karvi

Louise Ferguson posted on her story a video of testing where she has ext suspension, maxxis tyres, crankbrothers wheels, brakes I’m not sure of, flat pedals, non prototype rear triangle and what looks to be sram drivetrain 🤔 

She also tagged one of mondrakers mechanics 🤷‍♂️  

With a few bigger teams making the move to Rockshox, wonder if it’s money or product driven. Could be a good sign for the new RS components coming around the corner. 

Are those still Lewis brakes?

It’s very reasonable for a rider to test a completely new frame with parts they are used to. Removes the variables.Imagine switching every single part on the bike at the same time, you’d have no idea which parts are effecting what. Then introduce one new component at a time to specifically test/refine it. Especially since contracts with new component sponsors probably haven’t activated yet. Very clear goodbyes on the teams Instagram to EXT, Maxxis etc..

Specialized is slowly pulling out of the apparel game. From the rumblings I’ve heard, future design and production of clothing is done, but the stuff that is already made/in production will hit the market. 

Also, Maples will be on Pivot Factory Racing, not Frameworks nor any other Commencal team. Stamp it.

So, who’s leaving pivot? They have 4 elite male riders.  

That mean we are losing the shoes too?! I’m running out of options for DH flats with crazy good grip. Still in tears about Sam Hills. Finally got through the emotions and tried 2FO DH and was pleasantly surprised and stoked. Don’t take those from me too!!

Seriously… idk what I’ll do

Oops. Derail to shoes on accident in Team Rumors. My bad. 
Hmmmm Back to what Frameworks has cooking up huh @Skunk Works Suspension 😏

Marlboro would be so legit

Talk about the right fit