Published December 6, 2025 05:39PM
The early season each year is a blur of confusion, with many pro teams changing jersey colors and designs, and also riders long associated with certain teams switching to others.
That’s not all: some of the most recognizable teams in the bunch are also undergoing something of reinvention, with new sponsors coming on board, mergers happening and team names being tweaked or even completely changed.
So, with the first pro races of 2026 fast approaching (yes, your wait is nearly over), here’s a lowdown of what’s changing in the bunch and why it matters.
1: Farewell to Deceuninck, hello to Premier Tech
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won this year’s Milan-San Remo ahead of Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates). Photo: Chris Auld/Velo
Deceuninck was previously immersed in the QuickStep team, being its title sponsor from 2019 to 2021. It then jumped ship to the Alpecin team of Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, enjoying wins in that year’s Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
In all the company has reaped the publicity of 112 victories, including more grand tour successes plus classic wins in Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Now doors and windows manufacturer Deceuninck is stepping back from title sponsorship, indicating it has “achieved the desired results in terms of brand awareness.” It will remain as a shirt sponsor next season.
Alpecin steps up into the lead sponsor role, with Premier Tech adding its clout. That was announced on Friday, with the Canadian waste water management, fertilizers and recycling company signing on for three years, and with an option for three more.
It previously backed the Israel-Premier Tech team, but is jumping ship following a turbulent year there.
Jean Bélanger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Tech, didn’t address that topic in the sponsorship announcement on Friday. He focused instead on the stars of its new project.
“This partnership reaffirms our ambition to be at the highest level of the sport and confirms our long-term commitment to cycling,” he said. “We are joining forces with one of the most successful teams, with renowned athletes such as Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen and Kaden Groves from the men’s team, as well as Puck Pieterse and Charlotte Kool from the women’s team.
“The team’s diversity, experience and depth will allow us to accelerate building bridges across all levels of the sport while sparking new talent.”
2: Goodbye to Israel-Premier Tech, hi to NSN Cycling Team
Scott will supply bikes to the new NSN team (Photo: Chris Auld/NSN Cycling)
It’s fair to say that 2025 was a rocky season for the Israel-Premier Tech squad. It took 23 wins but only racked up one at WorldTour level. More significantly, it faced increasingly vigorous pushback from protestors and ultimately race organizers as a result of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Protestors caused some disruption at the Tour de France, but things really ramped up at the Vuelta a España with several stages being affected and the final day of racing abandoned.
That in turn was followed by several race organizers making clear to the team it was not welcome.
The repercussions were also seen closer to home, with both Premier Tech and Factor Bikes walking away. In response, the team recently announced a number of significant changes, with the registration moving to Switzerland, the operations to Spain and, reportedly, team owner Sylvan Adams exiting.
The new identity sees the outfit become the NSN Cycling Team, with sports and entertainment company Never Say Never becoming the title sponsor and investment group Stoneweg also coming on board.
It has signed sprinting star Biniam Girmay, the winner of the points classification in the 2024 Tour de France, while Mike Woods has retired and Derek Gee has walked away citing “just cause” for numerous reasons, including safety and personal beliefs. He is facing a lawsuit from Adams over the departure, and is yet to announce a new team.
3: Two become one at Lotto-Intermarché
Lotto is merging with Intermarché for 2026 (Photo: Chris Auld)
Financial pressures led to significant implications for three teams inside the second half of 2026. Arkéa-B&B Hotels stopped outright due to a lack of sponsorship, while fellow WorldTour team Intermarché-Wanty plus the Pro Continental squad Lotto felt a big squeeze.
The latter two teams ultimately decided on a merger, leading to a number of riders and staff left searching elsewhere and to rider’s union president Adam Hansen publicly questioning the conduct of those in management.
The upheaval and the decision of the merged squad to continue with the Lotto WorldTour licence gave Girmay a get out clause despite still being under contract, and he duly moved across to the NSN Cycling Team.
It remains to be seen how Lotto-Intermarché will fare in 2026, but it will certainly miss the African rider.
4: New bikes, new title sponsor at Q36.5 Pro Cycling
Pidcock finished second to Pogačar at Strade Bianche and third in the Vuelta (Photo: Chris Auld/Velo)
Tom Pidcock’s third overall in the 2025 Vuelta a España, Rory Townsend’s victory in the ADAC Cyclassics plus wins by Pidcock, Matteo Moschetti and Fabio Christen continued the upwards trend of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling team.
That rise looks set to accelerate in 2026, with Pinarello stepping up as title sponsor and also replacing Scott as the bike supplier. The increased clout sees the team import ten riders, including Eddie Dunbar, Fred Wright, Sam Bennett and Chris Harper.
Their signings plus the strong Vuelta display by Pidcock has led to the expectation of a Tour de France wildcard in 2026, which would mark the debut in cycling’s biggest race for the Pro Continental team.
5: Au Revoir AG2r La Mondiale
Ben O’Connor earned second place for Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale at last year’s Vuelta a España (Photo: Chris Auld)
French company AG2r La Mondiale has a long, long association with pro cycling, coming on board as a secondary sponsor of the Casino team in 1998 and then taking over in the top spot two years later. The multinational insurance firm remained as lead sponsor until the start of 2024, when sporting giant Decathlon stepped in.
Decathlon took over ownership of the team in July of this year and later that month it was announced that French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM would become secondary sponsor from 2026 on. This is reported as increasing the budget to close to 40 million Euro, and will boost the chances of French hope Paul Seixas, Swiss rider Felix Gall plus new signings Olav Kooij and the American Matthew Riccitello of landing major victories.
6: A name tweak and big new ambitions for Rockets Cycling
The Unibet Rose Rockets team has one of the most colorful and zany approaches in the pro peloton. (Photo: Unibet Rose Rockets)
The Unibet Tietema Rockets team has had a very rapid rise in UCI rankings since 2023, and is poised for further improvements in 2026. Signing Dylan Groenewegen, Wout Poels and Irish attacker Rory Townsend is both the next progression for the French-registered squad and also part of a push for a Tour de France invite.
This, plus the innovative and entertaining approach the team has taken since its inception will further boost the chances of that, and have enticed German bike company Rose to join forces. The rebranded Unibet Rose Rockets looks set for its biggest season yet in 2026.
7: A new US team with big ambitions
An early look at the team jersey (Photo: Special to Velo)
Former pro George Hincapie is one of the key figures behind the new US Pro Continental team Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, which has the aim of riding the Tour de France in the coming seasons. With 20 riders signed up, some long-term sponsorship commitments established and big ambitions made clear, the squad is determined to grow year on year.
It is one of the many changes to the pro peloton in 2026. That, together with the other standout differences listed above, will add to the fun, challenge and occasional frustration of trying to identify exactly who is who in the opening weeks of the new season.