Origine will leave the XCO World Cup in 2027 after two seasons and 74 podium finishes

Origine has announced the end of its Origine Racing Division project at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The French brand will thus close a chapter of just two years in which its official team has become one of the most competitive structures in the XCO and XCC World Cup.

The news comes in a particularly striking season for official MTB teams. Just a few months ago, we learned that Cannondale will also end its historic Cannondale Factory Racing at the end of 2026, after more than three decades at the highest level, Lapierre has had to close its team due to financial problems, and there are rumors of several more teams leaving for 2027.

Origine ends its Racing Division after two seasons

Origine Racing Division was born in 2025 with a project built around riders like Martina Berta, Naël Rouffiac, and Mathis Azzaro, and in just two seasons, it has achieved results that explain how significant the decision is.

The project ends with at least 24 victories, the world title of Naël Rouffiac, and 74 podiums, and the Lake Placid event is still to be celebrated.

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2026 has indeed been probably the best showcase possible for Origine. Mathis Azzaro has achieved two victories in the XCC World Cup, in addition to reaching the podium in XCO. One of them came in Nove Mesto, where Azzaro won a spectacular Short Track ahead of Tom Pidcock.

Martina Berta has also had an exceptional season. The Italian achieved her first Elite victory in a XCO World Cup in La Thuile and recently completed a perfect weekend in the United States, winning both the XCC and XCO in Soldier Hollow. In the long race, she attacked in the decisive phase and finished ahead of Gwendalyn Gibson and Sina Frei.

A performance that makes it particularly striking that the project ends precisely now.

The team wants to continue in 2027, but without Origine as the main sponsor

The end of Origine Racing Division does not necessarily imply the disappearance of the entire sports structure. Maxime Marotte, the team manager, had already confirmed to Escape Collective that 2026 would be the last season of the partnership with Origine and that the intention is to continue in the World Cup in 2027 under a new main sponsor.

According to Marotte, the project needs more resources to maintain its progression at the highest international level. Therefore, what ends is the stage of Origine as the brand that names and primarily supports the team, while the structure works to find a new formula to continue competing.

Origine itself has also made it clear that it does not necessarily abandon competition. The French company assures that it will remain involved, although for now it has not explained how it will do so starting in 2027.