Team 9 Oct 2026, 1:00PM

Made For The North: Davide Ballerini Signs With Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

The Italian Classics specialist brings experience, proven winning pedigree and a passion for the cobbles to the Home of Cycling Innovation, two-year agreement from 1 January 2027.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is pleased to announce the signing of Italian rider Davide Ballerini on a two-year agreement covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Some riders despise the cold, the rain and the cobbles. Others feel at home in them.

For Davide Ballerini, the demanding roads of Northern Europe have always held a special attraction. A former winner of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the 32-year-old Italian has built his career around the intensity, unpredictability and unique character of the Spring Classics.

Now, he brings that experience, determination and unmistakable passion for racing in the North to Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

A CLASSICS SPECIALIST WITH UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ballerini joins the Team following a successful 2026 season that has seen him return to winning ways, claiming a stage victory at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye before securing his first-ever Giro d'Italia stage win in Naples.

His palmarès also includes victory at the 2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, one of the most prestigious races on the Belgian Classics calendar, alongside successes at the Coppa Bernocchi, the European Games road race and stages of several international races.

Yet it is the cobbled Classics that continue to define his ambitions.

Davide Ballerini said:

"I've always loved the Classics, and that will never change. I actually struggle more in hot weather than in the cold. I like the rain, I like the lower temperatures, and I love the atmosphere of racing in Belgium. People often ask me what it feels like to race on the cobbles, but it's almost impossible to explain. You have to experience it yourself.

"At this stage of my career, I was looking for fresh motivation and new objectives. Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team showed me a project with real ambition, a Team that is growing and a group of riders who work together towards clear goals. I want to bring everything I've learnt throughout my career, but I also believe you should never stop learning."

WHERE EXPERIENCE MEETS INNOVATION

Racing over cobbles at 50 kilometres per hour, in the rain and freezing temperatures, leaves little room for compromise.

Bike handling, equipment reliability, clothing performance and protection from the elements can all influence the outcome of a race decided under the most demanding conditions.

For Ballerini, the Team's close relationship with its technical partners represents an opportunity to turn years of racing experience into meaningful product development.

Through the “team's factory-style” approach, riders work directly with partners including Pinarello and Q36.5, contributing practical feedback from racing and training to help refine the equipment they depend on.

"Innovation and performance were among the reasons I chose this Team" Ballerini explained.

"Today, equipment and clothing can make a real difference. I've always believed that companies develop better products by working closely with professional athletes. We can give them valuable feedback, especially when it comes to materials, clothing and how everything performs in demanding racing conditions.

"Experience is important in that process. I like the idea of being part of a Team where riders can contribute to the development of the products they use. That's how you keep improving."

EXPERIENCE THAT STRENGTHENS THE TEAM

Beyond his own ambitions, Ballerini brings valuable experience from some of professional cycling's most established teams, including his years at Quick-Step, where he developed a deep understanding of the collective approach required to succeed in the Classics.

For Team Principal Douglas Ryder, the Italian's arrival represents another important step in building a competitive, experienced and ambitious squad.

Douglas Ryder, Team Principal, said:

"Davide knows what it takes to win big races, he understands the Classics, and he brings years of experience from some of the best environments in professional cycling.

"What I really like is that he still has that hunger. He's won again this year, including a stage at the Giro d'Italia, and he believes there is more he can achieve. That ambition is important to us.

"We are building something special at Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, with our riders and partners working closely together. Having someone like Davide, who understands how equipment, preparation and teamwork come together in the toughest races, is a great fit for our Home of Cycling Innovation. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together."

Ballerini will officially join Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team on 1 January 2027, bringing his experience, resilience and passion for the Northern Classics into a new chapter of his career.

EDITOR'S NOTES

Davide Ballerini