Mona Mitterwallner leaves Cannondale and signs with a road team: "I want to be the best cyclist in the world"

The triple XCM world champion Mona Mitterwallner has just announced her departure from the Cannondale Factory Racing team and her signing with the road team Human Powered Health Cycling until 2026. At 22 years old, Mitterwallner is one of the best cyclists in XCO/XCM and this represents a turning point in her sports career.

Mona Mitterwallner jumps to road cycling with Human Powered Health Cycling

Mona Mitterwallner, 22 years old, has decided to expand her cycling horizons and try her luck in road cycling. The Austrian is one of the most talented cyclists on the international scene and despite her youth, she already has 3 XCM World Championships, victories in the XCO World Cup, and important titles in lower categories. Now she will try to transfer all that potential to the road with the women's team Human Powered Health Cycling.

"I want to become the best cyclist in the world, so I have always said that road cycling is part of my future," explained Mitterwallner in her presentation. "It has always been on my radar and, after the Olympics, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to break out of my routine and see if I can improve as a cyclist."

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The Austrian already had her first contact with the team in December.

"We are delighted to welcome Mona Mitterwallner in her first season in professional road cycling," said Ro De Jonckere, director of Human Powered Health Cycling. "Her impressive achievements in MTB demonstrate her exceptional determination and talent. Her ability to excel in one of the most demanding disciplines in cycling at such a young age speaks of her strength and endurance. We are confident that her winning mentality and versatility will make her a formidable presence in the peloton."

"I wanted a new challenge and to develop my potential," pointed out the Austrian. "I love climbing. In MTB, you climb for two or three minutes, but on the road, you do it for over an hour. That is something that motivates me a lot and I believe it suits my qualities."

Mitterwallner's experience in road cycling is limited, although she already competed in the 2021 U23 European Championship, a race won by her new teammate Silvia Zanardi.

"I am very excited to compete in stage races. In MTB, you don't race several days in a row at the highest level, so I am intrigued to see how I recover from one day to the next. I think it will be an exciting challenge."

It remains to be seen if Mitterwallner will try to combine road cycling with mountain biking, although rumors suggest that she may compete in some XC races with a Spanish team. We will see.