17 Feb METALLURGICA VENETA MTB RPO TEAM 2025
Last week took place the official presentation of the Metallurgica Veneta Mtb Pro Team at the Merida Italy headquarters. With the official unveiling of its six athletes and the brand new Merida mountain bikes, the Team officially kicked off the 2025 season. ISB SPORT will remain one more year as partner of the Team, whose bikes will be using ISB SPORT bearings. A new chapter for the team that relies on Merida technology and the best technical sponsors to face a season of the highest level between the World Cup, stage races and the most prestigious international marathons.
Merida: a new prestigious partner to aim high
The big news for 2025 is the arrival of Merida, one of the most prestigious brands on the world cycling scene, which will make its return to MTB marathon competitions through its Italian headquarters. Merida will support the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team athletes with two iconic models: the Big.Nine hardtail and the full-suspended Ninety-Six designed for the most demanding competitions, two real workhorses of the Taiwanese brand.
Big.Nine and Ninety-Six represent the pinnacle of technology and innovation in the world of off-road competitions, guaranteeing athletes the best possible support to face the challenges of the season.
The team’s mountain bikes sport an exclusive custom paint scheme, perfectly in line with the official team colours. The frame features a stylish combination of matte gray and bright blue, with the Merida logo prominently displayed on the downtube creating a sleek, aggressive look, perfect for standing out on the race course.
A competitive rooster with two new grafts
2025 also marks the entry of two new athletes into the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team. The big news is the hiring of Diego Arias (Colombia), one of the top international riders in the marathon discipline, who brings with him an extraordinary list of achievements, which includes a silver medal at the 2021 Marathon World Championships. His experience and winning mentality represent added value for the team, with the aim of consolidating itself among the leading teams at an international level.
With the hiring of Andrea Candeago, a promising young Italian off-road rider, the team directed by Martino Tronconi has completed its lineup for 2025, with a rider determined to grow and reciprocate the trust that the team has placed in him.
The two new entries will join the four confirmed athletes from last season: Nicola Taffaril, Jacopo Billi, Massimo Rosa and Maria Zarantonello who in 2024 achieved 11 victories, including the prestigious 4 Islands MTB Croatia, as well as 27 podiums and 34 placings in the Top 10, demonstrating the high level of competitiveness of the team.
The 2025 season of Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team will be characterized by a busy calendar of top-level competitions, with the aim of being protagonists in the main international events. Stay tuned!