Great news ahead for Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal: new technical partnerships for 2027, as part of the team's ongoing commitment to providing riders with world-class equipment and technical support. The new partnerships are the result of a thorough research and evaluation process conducted by the team's management and technical staff, with technical evaluation led by technical director and development manager Nicolas Coosemans and one of the leading performance coaches, Koen Pelgrim.

The focus has been on not only the quality and performance of each product, but also on how it integrates with the equipment and expertise provided by our current partners, such as Castelli and Shimano, and how potential partners can help the team achieve its sporting objectives.

The products have been extensively tested and evaluated in controlled environments, including wind tunnel testing, as well as in real-world road conditions. This rigorous approach ensures that every element of the team's technical package has been selected to help our riders achieve peak performance.

The new bike line is led by Merida, which will supply the team with bicycles for the next four years, with an option to extend beyond 2030. Founded in 1972, Merida has grown from its origins in Taiwan to become one of the world's leading bicycle manufacturers, combining over fifty years of bicycle manufacturing experience with a strong focus on innovation and performance.

With racing in its DNA and highly developed bicycles such as the award-winning REACTO and the brand new TIME-WARP, which cuts through the air, ready to use, the team is ready to support our endeavor with its sophisticated products and vast experience. Today, Merida's approach combines research, design and development in Germany with extensive engineering and manufacturing expertise in Taiwan.

At the heart of Merida's philosophy is a commitment to research and development, with performance driven by thorough testing and continuous refinement. Its engineers work across various areas, including aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, handling and rider comfort, not limiting themselves to individual components, but considering how the bike as a whole can contribute to improving rider performance. This approach has resulted in winning bicycles at the highest levels of professional cycling and has established a solid reputation for using feedback from professional cyclists and teams to guide further development.

From 2027, Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal will work closely with Merida, combining their technical expertise with feedback from our riders and technical staff, with the aim of providing our athletes with world-class equipment, including a multi-year testing agreement with the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub. Merida bicycles will be assembled with components from the team's long-standing partner, SHIMANO. Close collaboration with Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal has enabled SHIMANO to develop and refine its products at the highest levels of professional cycling. Both teams will continue to use SHIMANO DURA-ACE transmissions and pedals. The partnership will enter a new phase with the introduction of the brand new DURA-ACE C36, C50, C60, C99 and Disc wheels, offering a complete range of options for all racing conditions.

These wheels will be equipped with Continental tires, which will join the team starting in early 2027. Always synonymous with quality, Continental has been manufacturing bicycle tires since 1892 and has been a market leader in research and development ever since. The Continental team played a key role in testing our products and has developed a range of products that will help our riders perform at their best in every condition.

The next partner to join the team's technical partner portfolio in 2027 will be Prologo. Founded in Milan in 2006, the Italian saddle manufacturer has built its reputation on innovation, research and close collaboration with professional cyclists, allowing us to provide our athletes with equipment tailored to their individual performance and comfort needs. The team's rider equipment will be further strengthened by the arrival of Sidi and Lazer. With over 60 years of experience in manufacturing high-performance footwear, Sidi boasts a solid reputation for innovation and quality, while Belgian helmet manufacturer Lazer has already played an important role in the team's aerodynamic testing, combining performance, comfort and safety for riders.

Completing the team's new technical package will be a partnership with Wolf Performance. Combining extensive bike-fitting expertise with the latest technologies, Wolf Performance will collaborate with our riders and technical staff to optimize individual positions and equipment configurations, helping to ensure that every rider can achieve peak performance from the equipment at their disposal.

Regarding the new partnerships, CEO Jurgen Foré stated: "We have worked on this project forover a year, because decisions regarding technical partners have a direct impact on our riders' performance. We wanted to examine every element of our technical equipment to understand where improvements could be made, while consolidating the solid relationships already in place. What excites me most is not so much the individual products our riders will use, but rather the know-how that each of these companies brings to our teams. We want our technical partners to work closely with our athletes and performance staff, sharing knowledge, data and ideas, so that we can continue to grow and develop together. We are deeply grateful to all our new partners for the trust they have placed in Soudal-Safety Jogger and AG Insurance-Soudal. We look forward to launching these new collaborations and showing you the concrete results of work that we have undertaken with great dedication".