EF Education-Oatly begin the 2026 season at a pivotal moment in the team’s history. After earning promotion from ProTeam status, they arrive in the Women’s WorldTour with momentum, but also with the realities that accompany a step up in competitive depth and calendar intensity. Their place among the top tier is deserved, built on consistent results, selective victories and a squad that has steadily matured rather than been assembled overnight.
Promotion brings both opportunity and exposure. EF Education-Oatly now face a full WorldTour calendar where margins are thinner, depth is tested weekly and success is measured less by individual peaks than by sustained relevance. The question for 2026 is not whether they belong, but how quickly they can adapt.
Photo Credit: GettyA promotion built on accumulation rather than domination
EF Education-Oatly’s 2025 results reflect the profile of a team that earned its elevation through breadth. Victories arrived across race categories, national championships and stage races, without reliance on a single rider or narrow discipline.
Alison Jackson’s Canadian road title and overall victory at Gracia Orlová anchored the early season, while Kristen Faulkner added the US national road race title. Cédrine Kerbaol claimed the French national time trial crown, underlining the team’s strength against the clock, and Kim Cadzow swept both New Zealand national titles.
At the WorldTour level, Noemi Rüegg delivered the team’s most significant international success, winning the Tour Down Under overall and a stage. That result, achieved against a deeper field than many ProTeam races, offered a clear signal that EF Education-Oatly could already compete beyond their previous tier.
What stands out across the season is consistency. The team may not have dominated marquee events, but they repeatedly converted opportunities, building the points total required for promotion.
Leadership anchored in experience and versatility
EF Education-Oatly enter the WorldTour without a single defining superstar, but with several riders capable of influencing races in specific contexts. Kristen Faulkner remains central to that equation. Her time trial strength and endurance make her the team’s most credible GC option, particularly in stage races featuring ITTs and rolling terrain. While her 2025 season was relatively quiet beyond the national title, her proven ability to perform in major stage races keeps her at the centre of the team’s ambitions.
Cédrine Kerbaol offers a different leadership profile. Strong on hilly terrain and increasingly consistent in selective one-day races, she brings tactical awareness and finishing ability that translate well to WorldTour racing. Noemi Rüegg’s breakthrough at the Tour Down Under positions her as a key stage race rider, particularly in early-season events and one-week races.
Together, this trio gives EF Education-Oatly multiple leadership options without forcing a rigid hierarchy.
Navigating significant departures
Promotion has coincided with notable losses. Letizia Borghesi’s move to AG Insurance-Soudal removes a durable Classics performer, while Alison Jackson’s departure takes away one of the team’s most recognisable figures and a proven winner. Clara Emond’s exit further trims depth in stage racing.
In addition, several experienced riders step away from the sport. Megan Armitage, Lotta Henttala and Sarah Roy retire, while Veronica Ewers steps back after struggles with RED-S. These exits collectively reshape the squad, reducing experience and necessitating a faster integration of newer riders than might otherwise have been ideal.
Recruitment aimed at survival and growth
EF Education-Oatly’s recruitment for 2026 reflects the realities of WorldTour promotion. Rather than chasing marquee names, the team have focused on riders who can adapt quickly, contribute across varied race types and grow into the level.
Alexis Magner brings experience and reliability, particularly on cobbled terrain and in positioning-heavy races. Alice Towers arrives from Canyon SRAM zondacrypto with WorldTour familiarity, adding depth and tactical nous. Stina Kagevi, Auke De Buysser, Minke Anderson Solbjørk and Caoimhe O’Brien all step up as development-focused signings, reinforcing the team’s long-term outlook.
This approach carries risk. Development riders will face a steep learning curve at WorldTour level, but it also preserves the team’s identity as a programme built on progression rather than short-term fixes.
Photo Credit: GettyYouth, adaptation and the WorldTour learning curve
The 2026 roster is notably young. Riders such as Mirre Knaven, Babette van der Wolf, Alexandra Volstad and new world champion Magdeleine Vallieres represent the next generation, while Nina Berton and Henrietta Christie continue their transition into senior leadership roles.
The challenge will be balancing opportunity with protection. EF Education-Oatly cannot afford to burn through young talent in a relentless calendar, but they also need riders capable of finishing races and collecting points. Managing that balance may define their first WorldTour campaign more than any single result.
Photo Credit: GettyAssessing expectations realistically
EF Education-Oatly are unlikely to enter 2026 with ambitions of contesting WorldTour rankings at the very top. Survival and consolidation are the immediate priorities. Stage wins, top-10 finishes and selective one-day results will matter more than overall classification battles.
However, the team’s structure suggests they are better prepared than many newly promoted squads. Multiple national champions, a proven WorldTour stage race winner in Rüegg and a GC-capable rider in Faulkner provide a platform that goes beyond mere participation.
Outlook for 2026
EF Education-Oatly’s WorldTour debut season will be measured in adaptation rather than silverware. The loss of experienced winners raises the degree of difficulty, but promotion was earned through consistency and smart race management, qualities that remain intact.
If the team can stabilise across the calendar, protect its young riders and continue to convert targeted opportunities, they can establish themselves as a credible WorldTour presence rather than a temporary addition. Progress may be incremental, but the foundations suggest EF Education-Oatly are equipped for the long term.
2026 EF Education-Oatly Roster
- Nina Berton
- Kim Cadzow
- Henrietta Christie
- Auke De Buysser
- Kristen Faulkner
- Stina Kagevi
- Cédrine Kerbaol
- Mirre Knaven
- Alexis Magner
- Minke Anderson Solbjørk
- Caoimhe O’Brien
- Noemi Rüegg
- Alice Towers
- Magdeleine Vallieres
- Babette van der Wolf
- Alexandra Volstad
