{
  "id": 15728483,
  "title": "Hello Merida, goodbye Specialized: Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal switch bike sponsors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/hello-merida-goodbye-specialized-soudal-quick-step-and-ag-insurance",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-20T10:00:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cycling Weekly",
    "slug": "cycling-weekly",
    "url": "https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/hello-merida-goodbye-specialized-soudal-quick-step-and-ag-insurance-soudal-switch-bike-sponsors"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After two decades with Specialized, Dutch teams Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal are switching to Merida bikes for the upcoming 2023 season. The move comes after a detailed process involving extensive research, evaluation, and real-world testing by the teams' technical director, Nicolas Coosemans, and performance coach, Koen Pelgrim. The new partnership with Merida will commence in 2023 and last until 2030, with the teams set to use the Merida Reacto frame, Time-Warp triathlon bike, and Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets. Additional components include Prologo saddles, Sidi cycling shoes, and Lazer helmets. This change marks a new chapter for both teams, as Merida returns to the WorldTour after a one-year absence.",
  "summary": "Other equipment changes include Lazer helmets and Sidi shoes",
  "key_points": [
    "Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance-Soudal switch to Merida bikes in 2023",
    "Merida partnership lasts until 2030 with Reacto frames and Time-Warp tri bikes",
    "Merida returns to WorldTour after one-year absence"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This long-term partnership signals Merida's strategic return to the WorldTour level while ending a two-decade era of technical reliance on Specialized for these prominent Dutch cycling teams.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}