Shocking News in MTB: Cannondale Will Shut Down Its Official Racing Team After the 2026 Season

Cannondale has announced that the 2026 World Cup season will be the last of its historic official competition program, Cannondale Factory Racing (CFR). The decision ends more than 30 years of uninterrupted presence in the elite of mountain biking and represents one of the most significant strategic changes in the recent history of the American brand.

Cannondale ends its historic World Cup team: Cannondale Factory Racing will disappear in 2026

For decades, Cannondale Factory Racing has been a reference within the global XC scene, both for its sporting results and for its role in the development of bicycles that later reached the market. The team has also been a key platform for some of the best riders in the discipline and a testing ground for technologies that have marked the evolution of modern MTB.

The end of an era for Cannondale Factory Racing

The brand itself has confirmed that 2026 will be a farewell season for the team under the name CFR. In an official statement, Cannondale explains that it wants to turn this last year into a celebration of everything achieved by riders, mechanics, engineers, and staff who have been part of one of the most prestigious World Cup programs.

“We see this season as a celebration, a way to thank throughout the year the riders, staff, and fans who built one of the most respected programs in this sport,” the company states.

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The news comes just after Luca Martin's victory in Lenzerheide, but it seems that the reasons are not related to sports. This decision makes sense at a time of significant corporate changes within the brand. Just a few weeks ago, it was revealed that its parent company, Pon.Bike, plans to close the exclusive Cannondale assembly factory in Almelo (Netherlands) by the end of 2027, a move that would affect about 120 jobs and is part of a reorganization of production towards shared facilities with other brands in the group.

Cannondale Rogues is born

Far from completely abandoning competition, Cannondale will bet on a new approach that will combine racing, content creation, and activation of cycling communities.

Starting in January 2027, the Cannondale Rogues program will be launched, a structure much broader than a traditional factory team that will bring together professional riders, content creators, community leaders, and new emerging figures from MTB, gravel, and other related disciplines.

According to the brand, the goal will be to connect more directly with cyclists and amplify Cannondale's presence beyond the competition circuits.

“Their role will be to live the brand: ride our bikes, tell their stories, and connect with the cyclists who make Cannondale what it is,” explains the manufacturer.

More events and experiences for users

The change in strategy will also involve greater investment in events, product testing, and activities aimed at the public. Cannondale assures that part of the resources that were previously allocated to the World Cup team will be redirected towards demonstration experiences and actions that bring the brand closer to more users.

Despite the closure of CFR, the company insists that it will remain present in high competition. It will continue to be linked to road and gravel cycling through its agreements with the EF team and the St. Michel women's program, while in mountain biking it will maintain a competitive presence through new formulas yet to be defined.

A change that reflects the transformation of the industry

The disappearance of Cannondale Factory Racing adds to an increasingly visible trend within the cycling sector, where brands seek to balance investment in competition with digital marketing strategies, content creation, and community building.

The launch of Cannondale Rogues in 2027 precisely symbolizes this model change: less dependence on a single elite team and a bet on a network of ambassadors with greater media and social reach.

Meanwhile, the 2026 season will serve as the final chapter for one of the most emblematic names in the history of the MTB World Cup.