The 2026 season marks a new milestone for Cinelli as the Italian performance bike brand steps up to the UCI ProTeam level for the first time.
Cinelli will support the newly named MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort Pro Team (formerly known as the Colpack Ballan team), an international squad that has transitioned from Continental status to the ProTeam ranks.
Now entering its seventh consecutive season as a technical sponsor, Cinelli will provide the team with a full fleet of race bikes. This includes the all-new Aeroscoop and the race-focused Pressure II, which has delivered more than 200 victories for the squad in recent years.
According to the Italian bike company, the move to ProTeam level represents a major step forward, opening the door for the team to compete in some of the world’s most prestigious international races. Based in Hungary but maintaining a strong Italian core, the team is managed by Antonio Bevilacqua and features a 21-rider roster for the 2026 season.
Riders will compete on custom Team Edition Aeroscoop frames. The Aeroscoop is a high-performance aero road platform that has been refined through wind tunnel testing to reduce drag. It features a frame weight of 950g and a fork weight of 370g, with the ability to accommodate tyres up to 34mm.
To celebrate the team’s elevation, Cinelli has created a new aesthetic for the frames. The design takes inspiration from an iconic Cinelli mountain bike of the past, known for its optical paintwork. The vivid pink graphics reportedly originated from a manufacturing accident where a decal carrier failed to peel away, resulting in a unique look that the brand has now embraced.
Victor Luis, Chairman & CEO of Cinelli, said “This season marks an important step for both Cinelli and the team as ambitions grow and we move up to ProTeam level.
“The Aeroscoop gives riders an extra weapon – combining top-level aerodynamic performance with a fresh, unmistakably Cinelli look. We’re proud to continue this long-standing partnership and to tell the team’s stories from the road in our own creative way.”
The MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort Pro Team roster includes prominent Italian riders such as former Giro d’Italia stage winner Fausto Masnada. The team also includes young talents such as Edoardo Cipollini, the 20-year-old nephew of legendary sprinter Mario Cipollini.
The partnership between the brand and the team in its former incarnation, Colpack Ballan, has already yielded major international success. This includes Filippo Baroncini’s World Championship title and Juan Ayuso’s victory in the Under 23 Giro d’Italia.
Antonio Bevilacqua, Team Manager of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort Pro Team, said “Our partnership with Cinelli spans six years and is built on trust, continuous dialogue, and shared development. Together we have achieved more than 200 victories. Today we begin a new chapter, strengthened by an even more solid relationship and a shared vision for the future.”
The new Team Edition Aeroscoop will make its first public appearance on January 17–18, 2026, at the Velofollies show in Kortrijk, Belgium. The bike is scheduled to make its competitive race debut at the team’s opening events later this month.
Cinelli, founded in Milan in 1948, positions itself as a lifestyle-oriented performance brand. It continues to operate outside the traditional constraints of the cycling market by focusing on a mix of technical manufacturing and creative collaboration.
The MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort Pro Team has a history spanning over 35 years in the sport. While it now registers in Hungary, it retains its primary operational base and DNA as a developmental squad for young professionals.
