{
  "id": 17220567,
  "title": "Bahrain Victorious end partnership with Bianchi 'with immediate effect' after one year, team to ride Factor Bikes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/bahrain-victorious-end-partnership-with-bianchi-with-immediate-effect",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-30T11:38:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cycling Weekly",
    "slug": "cycling-weekly",
    "url": "https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/bianchi-end-partnership-with-bahrain-victorious-with-immediate-effect-after-one-year-team-to-ride-factor-bikes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bahrain Victorious have terminated their partnership with Bianchi with immediate effect after a one-year stint, and will switch to riding Factor Bikes starting in 2027, the team announced this week. The contract between the WorldTour squad and Bianchi was mutually terminated, according to a press release on Thursday. Factor Bikes will sponsor the team, pushing the boundaries of professional cycling. Bianchi will now be without a WorldTour team for the upcoming season. Factor Bikes, which previously partnered with Israel-Premier Tech until the end of 2025, returns to cycling's highest stage. Tony Grimaldi, Bianchi's interim CEO, expressed gratitude to the riders and staff for their commitment and professionalism, wishing the team success in its next chapter. Bahrain Victorious thanked Bianchi for their support and dedication, adding that they value the passion for cycling that Bianchi brought to the team. Factor Bikes' CEO, Rob Gitelis, noted that it was fitting for his brand to return to the WorldTour in the year the Tour de France begins in Britain, as it is where his company was founded. He emphasized their belief that racing at the pinnacle of the sport is fundamental to who they are. Milan Eržen, Bahrain Victorious' managing director, stated that the partnership is about more than just supplying bikes. It represents an opportunity to innovate, compete at the highest level, and work together to push the boundaries of what is possible. Both teams share an ambition to be the best, with Factor continuously innovating on the bike with a strong focus on performance.",
  "summary": "Bike sponsor merry-go-round continues",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}