The MTB loses one of its great figures: Lapierre (formerly BH SRSuntour, Orbea KMC Ekoi...) shuts down its team

After more than a quarter of a century competing at the highest level, the current structure of the Lapierre Racing Unity team has officially announced its closure, bringing an end to one of the longest-standing and most recognizable structures in international mountain biking.

The Lapierre team concludes more than 25 years of history in the MTB elite

The Lapierre team concludes more than 25 years of history in the MTB elite. It is one of the most traditional teams in the XCO World Cup, its name has passed through BH SRSuntour, Orbea KMC Ekoi, or the current Lapierre, but the structure has always been the same and some of the best XCO cyclists in history have been part of it, from world and Olympic champion Julie Bresset to world champions Jordan Sarrou and Victor Koretzky, among others. The journey of this team is marked by national titles, podiums in the World Cup, international victories, and the milestone of reaching number one in the world team ranking.

Without officially knowing the reasons that have led to the closure of this historic structure, the closure of the team marks the end of a historic era in competitive MTB and leaves a significant void in the World Cup paddock. For now, it has not been detailed what will happen to the riders and staff for the upcoming season, nor whether part of the structure could integrate into other projects.

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In its farewell statement, Lapierre wanted to explicitly thank all the cyclists, staff members, and sponsors who were part of the project over these more than 25 years. They also had words for the fans, whom they consider an essential part of their success due to their loyalty and constant support season after season.