2026 will mark the end of an era. Cannondale Factory Racing, a staple of the World Cup circuit in various forms and home to some of the sports most iconic names for over 30 years, will close at the end of the 2026 season.
It’s sad news for fans of World Cup racing, as it means one less team supporting that top end of the sport. But it’s also the start of something new for Cannondale.
The timing of the news is also a bit wild, as CFR rider Luca Martin just won his first elite World Cup XCO on Sunday. His teammate, Charlie Aldridge, is winning things all over and, for Canadian fans, Cole Punchard’s been sky-rocketting up the standings starting last summer. Team leader and Olympic champion Jolanda Neff remains a force on the cross country circuit as well.
Cannondale Factory Racing: Over three decades of racing
While CFR’s current cross country roster is quite strong, the team’s history in the sport is much wider reaching. The team’s housed downhill, including the absolute icons Anne-Caroline Chausson and Cedric Gracia, and enduro squads alongside its always powerful cross country riders. The list of famous XC racers to pass through the team is, honestly, too long to even start listing.
Despite that long history, one of the longest in the sport, Cannondale is moving on. According to today’s statement from the brand:
“We carry that legacy forward with pride. The 2026 World Cup season will be Cannondale Factory Racing’s final one under that banner — and we view it as a celebration, a season-long thank-you to the riders, staff, and fans who built one of the most respected programs in the sport.”
The future: Cannondale Rogues
Cannondale isn’t going away entirely, and isn’t leaving racing behind yet. The brand says it will continue to support racers, just in a new format. That will take the form of a new Cannondale Rogues program, mising mountain bikes, gravel and “the disciplines in between.”
What is Cannondale Rogues?
“The new Cannondale Rogues program will bring together professional racers, content creators, community leaders, and emerging voices – a roster larger and more varied than a traditional factory race team. Their role is to live the brand: ride our bikes, tell their stories, and connect with the riders who make Cannondale what it is.”
What does that mean for current CFR riders? Not clear. But Cannondale will continue to support EF cycling teams and the St. Michel women’s program, including Alison Jackson.