American rider Luke Lamperti will join EF Education-EasyPost for the 2026 season, marking a new chapter in the 22-year-old’s fast-rising career. The Californian sprinter leaves Soudal Quick-Step to link up with the US-based WorldTour outfit, bringing speed, power, and a proven instinct for the one-day races of northern Europe.
Lamperti already has six professional victories, including a stage at the 2025 Czech Tour, and podium finishes in races such as Danilith Nokere Koers and Bredene Koksijde Classic. Known for his sprinting strength and sharp positioning, he is expected to be a cornerstone of EF’s growing classics group.
“I am really excited to join the team,” Lamperti said. “I already know quite a lot of the guys and am looking forward to joining a nice group and seeing what the next years bring. It feels like I am coming home. It’s an American team, and that means a lot to me. Cycling isn’t huge in the US, so it’s pretty special to be part of an American WorldTour team as an American rider.”
Lamperti grew up in Sonoma County, where he first discovered cycling while training for motocross. “Where I grew up, there is just amazing riding,” he said. “I fell in love with being out on the road and pushing myself. It went quite fast from there.” His background on dirt bikes helped develop his handling skills and competitiveness, qualities that later translated perfectly onto the cobbles of Europe.
After standout results in the junior and U23 categories, including a top-10 finish at Paris-Roubaix Juniors, Lamperti joined Trinity Racing, where he raced alongside current EF riders Ben Healy, Max Walker, and Lukas Nerurkar. The move helped him transition to life as a full-time European racer, leading to his WorldTour debut with Quick-Step in 2024.
EF Education-EasyPost CEO Jonathan Vaughters believes Lamperti will play a major role in the team’s ambitions next season. “Luke is a great sprinter and a great classics rider who knows how to do a lead-out,” he said. “He’s a real leader, even at 22. He reads races incredibly well and has the confidence to guide others. He’ll be one of our go-to riders for the cobbled races and a key sprinter for us. I could see him winning a race like Gent-Wevelgem, and if we dream big, even Milano-Sanremo.”
Lamperti describes himself as “a punchy sprinter who thrives in hard, selective races.” His focus will be on the spring classics, where he hopes to develop alongside fellow Americans Neilson Powless and Colby Simmons. “I love the thrill of the classics,” he said. “From the start to the finish, it’s full gas and full of excitement. The fans and cycling culture in Belgium are amazing. I can’t wait to experience that with this team.”
Having already completed a Grand Tour and built a strong foundation in the WorldTour, Lamperti joins EF Education-EasyPost with clear goals and renewed confidence. “I want to get the best out of myself throughout my career,” he said. “It’s about continuing to step up until I’m going for results in the biggest races in the world.”
