Merida is out. The Oltre RC is in. One of the biggest tech transfer of the 2026 season is finally official. Team Bahrain Victorious will ride Bianchi for the foreseeable future, giving riders like Matej Mohorič and new signing Attila Valter access to some of the most aggressive aerodynamics in the peloton.
But this isn’t just a paint job update. The switch to Bianchi’s “Reparto Corse” division means a complete overhaul of the team’s equipment ecosystem, from the ultra-light Specialissima RC for the climbers to the controversial Oltre RC for the sprinters. With a roster shake-up that sees seasoned veterans leave and high-potential talent arrive, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year. Let’s dive into the full transfer list and the specific bike setups for the new season.
How does this Italian setup compare to the rest of the peloton? See the full breakdown in our WorldTour 2026 Team Bikes Master Guide.
Context: The Arkéa Factor
To understand this sudden switch, you have to look at the volatility of the French peloton. Bianchi was previously the title sponsor for Team Arkéa-B&B Hotels, a partnership that was intended to be long-term. However, with the unfortunate collapse of the Arkéa structure in late 2025 due to a critical funding gap, the Italian manufacturer found itself “back on the market” with a full WorldTour budget and technical infrastructure ready to go.
Bahrain Victorious capitalized on the opportunity. After nine stable years with Merida, the team was arguably due for a refresh. The availability of a premium partner like Bianchi hungry to keep its Reparto Corse technology at the highest level of the sport created the perfect storm for this deal to happen. It is a classic case of one team’s misfortune becoming another’s competitive upgrade.
The 2026 Fleet: Who Rides What?
With access to the full Reparto Corse catalog, the team will split its equipment choices based on rider profiles and terrain. Here is how the roster is expected to divide the fleet.
1. The Climber’s Weapon: Bianchi Specialissima RC
This will be the primary workhorse for the General Classification contenders. With a frame weight of just ~785g, it allows the mechanics to build the bike right down to the UCI 6.8kg limit without sacrificing stiffness.
Who will ride it:
Lenny Martinez: As a pure featherweight climber, the Frenchman will almost certainly exclusively ride the Specialissima. It matches his explosive, high-cadence style perfectly.
Santiago Buitrago: The Colombian climber will leverage this frame for the steepest gradients of the Giro and Tour.
Antonio Tiberi: The Italian GC hope will rely on this chassis for three-week consistency.
2. The Aero Missile: Bianchi Oltre RC
The Oltre RC is one of the most aggressive aero bikes on the market, featuring the controversial “Air Deflector” technology on the headtube (subject to UCI race-day approval). It is stiffer, heavier, and significantly faster on the flats than the Specialissima.
Who will ride it:
Matej Mohorič: The King of the Dropper Post needs maximum speed for his trademark solo attacks and descents. The Oltre is the natural successor to his Merida Reacto.
Phil Bauhaus: The team’s pure sprinter needs every watt of aero efficiency for bunch kicks.
Attila Valter: Coming from the Cervélo S5 at Visma, Valter is accustomed to ultra-aero frames. Expect him to choose the Oltre for the Classics campaign.
3. The Race Against Time: Bianchi Aquila
The Time Trial setup sees perhaps the biggest upgrade test. The Aquila is a proven platform, but it will be put to the ultimate test by the team’s new signing.
Who will ride it:
Alec Segaert: The young Belgian powerhouse (transferring from Lotto) is a world-class time trialist. His performance on the Aquila will be the benchmark for whether Bianchi has truly caught up to the “Super Teams” in wind tunnel engineering.
His performance on the Aquila will be the benchmark for whether Bianchi has truly caught up to the aero engineering of rivals like Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe.
| Rider Name | 2025 Team (Bike) | 2026 Status | Projected 2026 Bike |
| Attila Valter | Visma (Cervélo) | NEW (Transfer In) | Bianchi Oltre RC |
| Alec Segaert | Lotto (Orbea) | NEW (Transfer In) | Bianchi Oltre RC |
| Lenny Martinez | Bahrain (Merida) | Staying | Bianchi Specialissima RC |
| Matej Mohorič | Bahrain (Merida) | Staying | Bianchi Oltre RC |
| Jack Haig | Bahrain (Merida) | OUT (to Ineos) | Pinarello Dogma F |
| Fred Wright | Bahrain (Merida) | OUT (to Q36.5) | Pinarello Dogma F |
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Bahrain Victorious 2026 Bikes Specifications
Moving from Merida to Bianchi implies a frame swap, but the core component ecosystem remains a “Hybrid” setup. Bahrain Victorious continues its long-standing strategy of mixing Japanese precision with Italian composite engineering.
Here is the confirmed build sheet for the 2026 season:
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace & FSA Mix. The team does not run a full Shimano groupset. While shifting and braking are handled by Dura-Ace Di2 R9270, the crankset is the carbon FSA K-Force Team Edition.
- Power Meter: Power2Max NG. The team uses the German-made spider-based power meter integrated into the FSA crankset, distinct from the Shimano factory power meter used by most other teams.
- Wheels: Vision Metron 45 & 60 SL. The partnership with Vision remains rock solid. These are among the fastest wheels in the wind tunnel, often paired with ceramic bearings.
- Cockpit: Bianchi Reparto Corse Integrated. This is the biggest adaptation for the riders. They lose their familiar Vision Metron 5D handlebars for the proprietary Bianchi cockpit required by the Oltre RC’s air deflectors.
- Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR. Standard issue tubeless, 28mm-30mm.
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5. Sticking with the short-nose winning formula.
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100.
- Cycling Computer: Garmin Edge 1050
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Get the Italian look and Japanese precision:
- 👟 The Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100
- 🖥️ The Data: Garmin Edge 1050 Solar
- ⚙️ The Rubber: Continental GP5000 S TR (Tubeless)
- 🍑 The Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5 PAS
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Complete Barhain Victorious 2026 Roster
While the new signings and bike tech grab the headlines, the team retains a solid core of leaders including Matej Mohorij, Antonio Tiberi, and Santiago Buitrago. Here is the official 28-rider lineup sorted by status.
| Rider Name | Nationality | Key Role (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ARNDT Nikias | 🇩🇪 Germany | Road Captain / Leadout |
| BAUHAUS Phil | 🇩🇪 Germany | Top Sprinter |
| BILBAO Pello | 🇪🇸 Spain | GC Leader / Stage Hunter |
| BORGO Alessandro | 🇮🇹 Italy | Neo-Pro / All-rounder |
| BRUTTOMESSO Alberto | 🇮🇹 Italy | Sprint Support |
| BUITRAGO Santiago | 🇨🇴 Colombia | GC Leader / Climber |
| CARUSO Damiano | 🇮🇹 Italy | Road Captain / GC Support |
| ERMAKOV Roman | 🏳️ Neutral | Young Talent |
| ERŽEN Žak | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Young Talent / Sprint |
| EULÁLIO Afonso | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Climber / Support |
| GOVEKAR Matevž | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Sprinter / Classics |
| GRADEK Kamil | 🇵🇱 Poland | Rouleur / Engine |
| KEPPLINGER Rainer | 🇦🇹 Austria | Domestique |
| MARTINEZ Lenny | 🇫🇷 France | GC Leader / Pure Climber |
| MIHOLJEVIĆ Fran | 🇭🇷 Croatia | Time Trial / Engine |
| MIQUEL Pau | 🇪🇸 Spain | Puncher / Breakaway |
| MOHORIČ Matej | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Leader / Classics / Monuments |
| OMRZEL Jakob | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Neo-Pro Talent |
| PAASSCHENS Mathijs | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Domestique / Breakaway |
| SEGAERT Alec | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Time Trial Specialist |
| SKERL Daniel | 🇮🇹 Italy | Sprint Support |
| STANNARD Robert | 🇦🇺 Australia | Puncher / Classics |
| STOCKWELL Oliver | 🇬🇧 Great Britain | Domestique |
| TIBERI Antonio | 🇮🇹 Italy | GC Leader (Giro d’Italia) |
| VALTER Attila | 🇭🇺 Hungary | Classics / Super-Domestique |
| VAN DER MEULEN Max | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Climber / Young Talent |
| VAN MECHELEN Vlad | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Classics Support |
| ZAMBANINI Edoardo | 🇮🇹 Italy | Climber / Support |
Verdict: A New Identity?
What do you think of the new setup? Will the switch to Bianchi give Lenny Martinez the edge he needs in the mountains, or was the Merida Scultura the better climbing bike? Let us know in the comments below.