U23 Mountain Bike XCC World Champion set for WorldTour debut with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe

Adrien Boichis will step up to the WorldTour in 2026 with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe after a standout season with the team’s Rookies squad. The 22-year-old Frenchman, recently crowned U23 Mountain Bike XCC World Champion, has impressed in both mountain biking and road racing this year, demonstrating his versatility and talent.

"It's very special for me to be promoted to the WorldTeam - especially after the team gave me so much support last year. I am very grateful and hope that this step will give me the chance to develop further in many areas. My goal is to continuously improve in road cycling, discover my strengths and support the team in the best possible way," Boichis said in a statement shared in the team's official website.

He also highlighted his enthusiasm for continued mountain bike competition next year. "I'm really looking forward to riding alongside the team's stars and hopefully being part of some future victories. It means just as much to me to be able to continue competing in mountain bike races in 2026 - the support of the team is just great."

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe CEO Ralph Denk praised Boichis’s progression. "Adrien is an exceptional athlete who has shown that he can ride at the front both in mountain biking and on the road. As he has been riding a two-track programme this season, the step up to the WorldTour is naturally a big one. But Adrien has shown that he can take on big challenges - and continue to grow. Our programme paves the way for precisely such career steps from the rookies to the pros." 

Alongside his mountain bike skills, Boichis has also shown great form on the road. Early in the season, he won the general classification of the Istrian Spring Tour in Croatia, beating other wonder kids such as Adrià Pericas and Callum Thornley.

After a relatively quiet Giro d'Italia Next Gen, in which he couldn't shine too much as he had to work for Lorenzo Finn and Luke Tuckwell, he went on to get the silver medal on the U23 French National Championships road race, as well as finishing in sixth position on the time trial. He wrapped up his road season in the Czech Tour, where he finished in sixth in the queen stage.

Boichis is the third rider from this year’s Rookies squad to earn a professional contract, following Callum Thornley (Great Britain) and Luke Tuckwell (Australia).