13 Feb VENETA PRO TEAM 2026 METALLURGICAL PRESENTATION
Chronicle of the Metallurgica Veneta Pro Team , ISB SPORT Ambassador
International ambition, cutting-edge technology, and a strategic debut in gravel. At ISB SPORT, we are very proud to be part of this ambitious project for the 2026 season.
Marradi, Italy, February 2026 – With the new season about to begin, Metallurgica Veneta Pro Team officially unveils its sporting and technical project for 2026, its third consecutive season in the UCI Premier Class. This project is marked by a clear international ambition, a profound technological overhaul, and a historic entry into the world of gravel.
The Italian team faces the season with a strengthened structure, a top-level calendar, and the star addition of Norwegian national champion Eskil Evensen-Lie, who joins a consolidated team comprised of Diego Arias, Nicola Taffarel, Andrea Candeago, and Maria Zarantonello, under the direction of Martino Tronconi.
International Debut and Elite Calendar
The season will officially kick off in Spain at the demanding Hero Costa Blanca, the opening round of the UCI XCM World Cup. From there, the team will compete in the world’s top stage races: Andalucía Bike Race, Absa Cape Epic, 4 Islands Epic, Andorra Epic Pyrenees, and Swiss Epic.
The marathon calendar will be rounded out with the European Championships, the Italian and Norwegian National Championships, and the iconic season finale in France at the Roc d’Azur.
2026: The Year of Gravel
The team’s major strategic shift is its decisive entry into gravel racing, with a seven-race program that includes UCI Gravel World Series events, national and European championships, and benchmark events such as The Traka 200K and Sea Otter Gravel. To achieve this, the riders will compete on the new Mérida Mission, a bike specifically designed for the challenges of mixed terrain.
Mérida: Uncompromising Racing Engineering
The partnership with Mérida enters its second year and is strengthened with a top-tier MTB fleet. The team will utilize two complementary platforms:
- The Merida Ninety-Six, a full-suspension bike designed for technical terrain, featuring P-Flex technology, ultra-efficient kinematics, and a new dark gray aesthetic.
- The Merida Big.Nine, a hardtail and ultralight bike designed for explosive races and steep climbs, where the weight-to-stiffness ratio is key.
A First-Rate Technical Ecosystem
The 2026 project is supported by a truly elite technical package:
- Pirelli: Scorpion XC tires for MTB and Cinturato Gravel for the Mission.
- Selle San Marco: Pro Series saddles.
- Look: X-Track Race and Carbon TI pedals.
- Maurten: Science-based sports nutrition.
The suspension is powered by Manitou components, while the Shimano XTR drivetrain guarantees absolute precision. Tarbros wheels, Formula brakes with Campa Bros discs, ProTaper components, Jagwire cables and technical solutions from Andreani, ISB Sport, Eleven, Svitol and Kärcher complete an uncompromising package.
A Growing Project
In addition to the backing of Metallurgica Veneta S.p.A., the team is supported by prestigious industrial brands such as Marchiol and Kärcher, confirming the project’s growing appeal beyond the cycling world.
Team Manager Martino Tronconi summarizes the season’s spirit:
“This project represents a leap forward in every sense: sportingly, technically, and in terms of vision. It’s not just about winning today, but about building a solid and sustainable program for the future.”
With an international roster, cutting-edge technology, and a global calendar, Metallurgica Veneta Pro Team is preparing to write the most ambitious chapter in its history.
