Surprise transfer! Boxing champion joins female peloton with Canyon//SRAM in 2026

Sophie Alisch gained international attention as an upcoming boxing talent when she became German junior champion at the age of just 14. As a professional, Alisch went undefeated with 10 consecutive victories. But after her 10th triumph less than a year ago, Alisch surprised with an announcement to stop her boxing career to pursue a dream of participating in the 2028 Olympics in cycling.

Since then we're yet to see Alisch race internationally. However that should change in 2026 as the 23-year-old German had just signed a deal to join the development team of Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto. And there are indications that the deal with Canyon//SRAM was already in place since the announcement in March. In any case, photos from Instagram, where Alisch has almost 600,000 followers, reveal that she has been riding a Canyon for most of the year.

"It honestly feels surreal. To be part of a team with such a strong identity, such depth and such purpose is a great honour. I come from a different sport, a different world in many ways, but from the very first conversation I felt that this team understood what drives me. It feels like the perfect place to grow, learn and prove myself again," says the German in a press release.

“I know I am starting from a different place than most riders here, and that is exactly what motivates me. I want to absorb as much as I can from the coaches, the staff, and my teammates. I am excited to see where I fit in, how I can grow, and how far I can push myself when surrounded by such talented athletes.”

As a long-time elite athlete with a champion’s mindset, Sophie brings a valuable, complementary perspective – one that she’s eager to apply in a new sporting arena.

"What excites me most is the chance to push myself at the highest level in a completely new sport. I thrive on challenges and the process of starting fresh, learning, failing, and improving every day. Cycling is complex, demanding, and strategic, and being part of a world-class team like this gives me the perfect environment to test my limits, sharpen my skills, and chase new goals. That mix of focus, drive, and adrenaline is exactly what has always motivated me as an elite athlete."

"Cycling started as a quiet passion while I was fully focused on boxing, but over time it grew into something I could no longer ignore. I wanted to challenge myself in a new way, to challenge my body, my mind and my limits, and see what I was capable of outside the ring," says Alisch.

"Discipline, focus, and the drive to compete at the highest level have always been at the heart of who I am as an athlete, and cycling offers a new arena to apply those values. For me, switching sports is not about leaving one life behind; it is about embracing a new mountain to climb and proving once again what I am capable of at the highest level. Now is the right time to follow my curiosity and ambition," she concludes.