Pinarello enter Women's WorldTour for first time with Roland Cycling

Historic Italian bike manufacturer to supply bikes to Swiss Women's WorldTeam, who count Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer amongst their ranks

12:59, Monday 5th February 2024

George Poole

Junior Writer

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Sylvie Swinkels sits proudly beside one of the team's new Pinarello Dogma F road bikes

The legendary Italian bike manufacturer Pinarello has made its first entry into the Women's WorldTour, with the Treviso-based brand announced as the official bike partner of Swiss WorldTeam Roland Cycling.

It was a move that had been expected since the team's riders had been spotted riding the bikes in training, not to mention the addition of the Pinarello logo to the team's kit for 2024, but Monday's announcement is a landmark moment for the brand.

Fausto Pinarello, the brand's figurehead and son of Cicli Pinarello founder Giovanni Pinarello, spoke of his delight at the news that the Italian bikes would be seen at the top tier of women's cycling for the very first time in history.

“It’s a proud moment for us to be making our debut in the UCI Women’s WorldTour, and an historic milestone as well," he said.

“We’re delighted to be supplying the Roland Cycling Team throughout 2024 as their passion for racing and continuous pursuit of excellence matches our own, and we look forward to seeing them in action on our bikes in the sport’s biggest races."

For Roland Cycling, the partnership is an important one, with Pinarello replacing Factor as their bike manufacturer following the withdrawal of support from Israel-Premier Tech over the winter. Formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech Roland, the team enjoyed one season linked to the men's Israel-Premier Tech squad and sharing Factor as a bike supplier, before Israel Cycling, Premier Tech and Roland went their separate ways ahead of 2024.

Despite losing two title sponsors for this season, Roland Cycling have done well to garner the support of one of cycling's most prestigious brands, and the team's general manager Ruben Contreras admitted he was particularly pleased with the announcement, which will see the Swiss side ride on Pinarello Dogma F bikes throughout the season.

“We’re able to compete in the UCI Women’s WorldTour thanks to our motivated riders, professional staff, and incredible sponsors who have thrown their support behind women’s cycling. We’re delighted to be working with Pinarello in 2024 and it’s a dream come true for me personally, as in my opinion, they are the best bike brand in the world.”

Pinarello to make Women's WorldTour debut at UAE Tour

Pinarello has never supplied bikes to a Womens WorldTour team before. Until 2023, they supplied bikes to the team currently known as AG Insurance-Soudal, but that was before the team achieved WorldTour status, and when they were known as NXTG by Experza.

Pinarello has supplied bikes for UCI Women's Continental outfit Top Girls Fassa Bortolo for well over a decade. This partnership will continue in 2024, but in Roland Cycling, Pinarello has found a team which will sport its bikes in all the biggest races on the calendar.

Roland Cycling have an international roster that includes young talents Sylvie Swinkels and Sofia Collinelli

Backed by the biscuit manufacturer Roland, the Swiss side are about to embark on their third season in the WorldTour and will enjoy automatic invites to all three Grand Tours this season, namely the Giro d'Italia Women, the Vuelta Femenina and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Before the longer stage races come around, however, the team will make their 2024 WorldTour bow at this week's UAE Tour Women, which will begin in Dubai on 8 February, include the iconic Jebel Hafeet climb on stage 3 and come to an end following stage 4 on 11 February.

No names have yet been announced by Roland for the race, but in their ranks for 2024, the Swiss team can count on Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer, Asian champion Thi That Nguyen and young Canadian track star Maggie Coles-Lyster.

For all the latest updates, visit our racing news page. For news from the women's peleton, see our women's racing news page.