Avancini surprises everyone and signs with Factor Racing road team: "As a child, I dreamed of racing the Tour, Il Giro, La Vuelta"

The bicycle manufacturer Factor Bikes has just announced its official team Factor Factory Racing. It is a UCI Continental team based in Slovenia and will be led by Brazilian Henrique Avancini. After winning the XCM World Championship and retiring from professional mountain biking, Avancini surprises everyone with his move to road cycling.

Henrique Avancini signs as leader of the newly created Factor Racing road team

The renowned bike manufacturer Factor Bikes, with 68 years of history, has taken a decisive step by creating its own professional factory cycling team. The brand, which has always been linked to sponsoring elite teams and athletes, now becomes the main sponsor of a UCI continental men's team based in Slovenia. With a 68-year history, this team has stood out for identifying and developing talents, an approach that will continue to be key in the new Factor Racing project.

The most prominent signing for the team is undoubtedly Brazilian Henrique Avancini. After retiring from mountain biking with the XCM World Championship title achieved in 2023, Avancini has surprised everyone by deciding to fulfill his childhood dream: competing in the Grand Tours of road cycling. "As a child, I dreamed of racing the Tour, the Giro, the Vuelta. Now I have the opportunity to pursue that dream," commented Avancini.

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The cyclist, who has played a key role in popularizing cycling in Brazil, mentioned that until now he felt under pressure not to disappoint his fans, but that this new stage is an opportunity to rediscover the pleasure of competing. "From the first meetings with Factor, I felt that this was the right group to try it. Win or lose, I know it will be an incredible experience," he added.

In addition to Avancini, Factor Racing will feature New Zealander Paul Wright, the recent 2025 national road champion, who will take on the role of road captain, accompanied by a talented group of under-23 cyclists from Slovenia.

The Factor Racing project not only encompasses the UCI Continental team, but will also function as an umbrella organization to support all private cyclists sponsored by Factor, such as Lauren De Crescenzo, Rob Britton, Matthew Holmes, Beth Potter, and Ryan Collins.

Rob Gitelis, founder of Factor and Black Inc, highlighted the importance of this new stage for the brand: "We are extremely proud to inaugurate our first Factor Factory team. We look forward to leveraging the close working relationship with the Factor Racing cyclists to continue developing the fastest competition team in the sport."