Bahrain Victorious and Bianchi end bike partnership with immediate effect
Bahrain Victorious and Bianchi have ended their partnership after just one season. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Italian bike company and the team said that they had “mutually agreed to conclude their partnership with immediate effect.”
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Bianchi came on board as Bahrain Victorious’ bike supplier ahead of the 2026 season, with the team announcing the deal as a “multi-year partnership.”
The move came after Bianchi’s previous WorldTour team, Arkéa-Samsic, had ceased operations at the end of 2025. Bianchi took over as Bahrain Victorious’ bike supplier from Merida, who had been associated with the team since its inception in 2017.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the riders and staff of Team Bahrain Victorious and to support the team at the highest level of professional cycling,” Bianchi interim CEO Tony Grimaldi said in the joint statement. “We thank everyone involved for their commitment and professionalism, and wish the team every success in its next chapter.”
Bahrain Victorious stated that it “valued Bianchi’s support and the passion for cycling its people brought to the team.”
The departure of Bianchi as Bahrain Victorious’ bike supplier was first reported by Daniel Benson on Substack in September, when he also reported that Factor was set to take over as the team’s partner for 2027.
Factor has had a one-year hiatus from the WorldTour after ending its association with Israel-Premier Tech (now NSN) last winter. The brand currently supplies bikes to Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, and Benson reported that Factor’s partnership with George Hincapie’s team would not be affected by the Bahrain deal.
Bianchi’s exit from Bahrain Victorious is the second confirmed bike change in the WorldTour for 2027, with Soudal Quick-Step set to switch from Specialized to Merida.
