By any measure, Laura Stigger had a pretty darn good year. A new rainbow jersey, earned in the XCC world championships race, and a World Cup win in Nove Mesto isn\u2019t bad for a year\u2019s work. But not enough, it would seem, to hold her spot on Specialized Factory Racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a very successful season, a world championship and eight beautiful years, the journey with Specialized comes to an end.\u201d Stigger shared in her announcement<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n The Austrian shared that, after eight years, she will not be going forward with the team in 2027. And she does not sound thrilled about the news.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m still heartbroken and disappointed about the decision,\u201d the accomplished Austrian says.<\/p>\n Stigger added her thank you to the team for those eight years.<\/p>\n \u201cI have grown with them, learned a lot, and made great friendships, and I\u2019m endlessly thankful for every single one and every single moment.\u201d<\/p>\n With the year that Stigger\u2019s had, and her success in the past, it should be no trouble for the Austrian to find a new home. But this isn\u2019t really a normal year. Multiple World Cup programs have folded in the last 12 months, leaving fewer and fewer spaces on well-supported teams. At the same time, those spots have become more essiential, as the UCI and Sydance (formers Warner Bros-Discovery) are making the team structure more and more essential to success on the World Cup circuit.<\/p>\n Still, Stigger remains clear what her goal is for the next wesaon.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still trying to believe things happen for a reason and I will still do what I love the most: riding my bike with a lot of fun. Stay tuned, and I will see you soon\u201d<\/p>\n