“It feels like coming home” — Torstein Traeen leaves Bahrain - Victorious to rejoin Uno-X Mobility for 2026

Torstein Traeen is heading back "home". After two seasons at Bahrain - Victorious, the Norwegian climber will return to Uno-X Mobility on a two-year deal starting in 2026 — a move the rider himself describes as deeply emotional and “almost like getting back together with a childhood sweetheart”.

The transfer marks the reunion of one of Uno-X’s original success stories with the project he helped shape. Traeen was part of the very first Uno-X development intake all the way back in 2016 and raced with the team through its rapid rise, including its landmark Grand Tour debut at the Tour de France in 2023. That same season he delivered a standout eighth place at the Criterium du Dauphine, a result that signalled both his potential and Uno-X’s growing ambitions.

Traeen’s journey to this point is inseparable from the adversity that defined his 2022 season. An abnormal doping control, later revealed to be caused by testicular cancer, turned his career upside down. Successful surgery and an astonishingly swift return to racing showcased both his resilience and his place among the peloton’s most respected climbers.

In 2025, he produced arguably the strongest season of his career — most notably wearing the red jersey for four days at the Vuelta a Espana and finishing ninth overall. That experience now feeds directly back into Uno-X’s growing WorldTour ambitions.

Speaking about the move in an official press release, Traeen offers some of the most heartfelt words of his career: “I can barely describe how much I’m looking forward to becoming a part of Uno-X Mobility. For me, it feels almost like getting back together with a childhood sweetheart — something that has been quietly alive inside me for years, just waiting for the right moment.”

“Joining Uno-X doesn’t feel like just another step in my career. It feels like coming home. There’s a warmth, a familiarity, and a sense of possibility that makes this move incredibly special to me. I’m deeply grateful for the trust, the opportunity, and the belief the team has shown.”

“As I think about the road ahead, I feel nothing but excitement, motivation, and genuine thankfulness. This isn’t just a new chapter — it’s the beginning of something that truly feels meant to be.”

He also makes clear that ambitions remain high: “Like Jonas Abrahamsen, I dream about winning a stage in one of the Grand Tours — the Giro, the Tour de France, or the Vuelta. That would be really, really cool. My personal goal is to win races — and to help my teammates win theirs. Joining Uno-X really motivates me, because I know it gives me the chance to become the best version of myself.”

Uno-X general manager Thor Hushovd says the team never doubted the value of bringing Traeen back into the fold.

“Torstein is a rider who performs at WorldTour level. He’s shown that clearly with a stage win at the Tour de Suisse and a top-10 finish in the general classification at the Vuelta a España. He’s well liked in the peloton, and we know exactly what he brings to a team.”

“Having him return to Uno-X Mobility feels very positive. He is valuable in one-week stage races and in Grand Tours — supporting the team and fighting for his own results. We’re genuinely pleased to welcome him back.”

With his arrival, Uno-X complete their 30-man squad for what will be the organisation’s first full season in the WorldTour — and Traeen’s homecoming adds both heart and horsepower to a project built on steady, sustained growth.