"I can't show anything on social media": the new signing of Trek Unbroken confirms that a new bike is on the way

The newly renamed Trek Unbroken continues to shape one of the most ambitious MTB projects for 2026 and has just announced the signing of German rider Nina Graf, one of the most improved competitors in the XCO World Cup during the last season.

Nina Graf joins Trek Unbroken after her best season in the XCO World Cup

At 27 years old, Graf arrives at the American team after having the best year of her career with Lapierre Unity Racing, a team that, according to paddock rumors, will not continue competing in 2026. Her performance leap has been evident, and in just one season, she has moved from 29th to 12th in the UCI ranking, her best historical position, supported by several Top 10 finishes in the World Cup and a consistency that has placed her among the most solid riders on the circuit.

The 2025 season has marked a turning point for Nina Graf. In addition to achieving three Top 10 finishes in World Cup events, with a notable seventh place in Andorra as her best result, the German rider became the XCO Champion of Germany in the elite category, her first national title in this category. She also secured a ninth place at the World Championships, confirming her progress in major competitions.

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Graf herself highlights consistency as one of the great achievements of the year, and maintaining a high level throughout the season, in an increasingly demanding competitive context, was one of her main objectives, which she has accomplished.

Joining Trek Unbroken also represents a structural change in the German rider's career. For the first time, she will compete on a factory team, something she describes as a decisive step.

Graf explains that what attracted her to the project was not only the sporting performance but also the environment: a balance between extreme professionalization and a context that allows the athlete to perform in the long term. In fact, she acknowledges that she arrives in 2026 with a clear goal of fighting for her first World Cup podium, although without obsessing over when it will happen.

Is a new Trek Top Fuel XC on the way?

One of the most interesting points of her presentation comes when discussing the equipment. Graf confirms that she is already riding the team's bike, although with many precautions as she cannot show it on social media and admits she must be careful even when taking selfies.

Her statements reinforce the idea that Trek may already have ready the new Trek Top Fuel, the same one we have seen competing this season in prototype form in the hands of riders like Evie Richards. The German rider describes a bike that “does everything by itself,” referring to the use of RockShox Flight Attendant, a system she has never competed with before and which, she admits, requires a period of adaptation and trust.

The fact that Graf is already training with this equipment several months before the start of the season suggests that Trek could officially launch this new Top Fuel in 2026.

With her arrival, Trek Unbroken adds a rider on a rising trajectory, with room for improvement and the motivation of someone who feels they have not yet reached their peak. Everything points to 2026 being the year when Nina Graf makes the definitive leap to the podium.