“Everything is on the table" - How Nike is preparing its return to cycling after more than 10 years away
CyclingTuesday, 21 July 2026 at 10:00
Nike is edging closer to reclaiming a leading role in professional cycling. After more than a decade away from the peloton, the U.S. multinational has stepped up its presence through deals with teams, riders, and specialist manufacturers, signalling a phased return to the sport.
Although the company has yet to confirm a title sponsorship or the production of race jerseys, its involvement in cycling grows season by season. That was acknowledged by Kieran Ronan, head of Nike’s cycling project, who left the door open to any future scenario. “Everything is on the table.”
Nike was one of the most influential brands in cycling during the US Postal, RadioShack and Lance Armstrong era, and supplied the iconic yellow jersey of the Tour de France from 1996 to 2011. However, the American firm exited the sport after the doping scandal surrounding Armstrong and since then had maintained only a token presence in the professional peloton.
Now, its strategy is to return gradually, rebuilding its image without yet taking on a team’s title sponsorship. The first step came through individual collaborations. Mark Cavendish wore Nike shoes during his final seasons as a professional, including his last Tour de France.
The brand later signed a deal with Demi Vollering before her move to FDJ-SUEZ, a team that currently uses Nike casual apparel off the bike.
Visma - Lease a Bike follows a similar approach. Since 2025, the Dutch squad has worn Nike apparel for travel and official engagements, while in 2026 the agreement expanded to include the footwear riders use both at appearances and during races.
Visma - Lease a Bike, in 2026.
Will Nike return as a title sponsor?
The most significant step in this new phase has been the partnership with Nimbl, the Italian manufacturer of high-performance shoes that already equips more than 190 WorldTour riders.
The collaboration produced the Étoile collection, developed on the Exceed platform and inspired by the demands of pro cycling. Riders from Visma - Lease a Bike, including Victor Campenaerts, also contributed their expertise to refine the product.
This alliance allows Nike to enter the technical footwear market in full, without having to build a dedicated competition shoe line from scratch.
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For now, Nike does not outfit any team in races and has not announced a major WorldTour sponsorship. However, the string of agreements with riders, teams, and specialist manufacturers shows the company wants to regain prominence in a sport where it was a benchmark for years.
The brand itself refuses to rule out its next move. Sponsoring a professional structure, designing race kits, or expanding its technical equipment footprint remain open options.
For the moment, Nike prefers to progress step by step, but the message is clear: its return to professional cycling is underway, and the prospect of reclaiming a prominent place in the peloton is more alive than ever.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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PogiFan2Day21-07-2026 - If Paul rides within himself and only nears red on the final three mountain stages he will be on the podium. I said before the Tour started I didn't expect anything from him this Tour and that a top five, even a top ten would be an absolute success beyond imagination, being this is his first GT, if he podiums he needs to take a deal with Ineos immediately and he needs to run that team like Wiggins and Froome did.awp21-07-2026
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KerisVroom21-07-2026 - They are testing but are they Lance era testing or active testing. Lance era was "oh, looks a bit high but he is a big drawl...it's fine". Active is, positive pull them out of the race and banmd197521-07-2026
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