Ethan Hayter will leave Soudal Quick-Step at the end of the 2026 season and join Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team for 2027, with the Swiss ProTeam formally confirming a move that had been expected for several weeks.
The British rider arrives after two seasons with Soudal Quick-Step, having previously spent four years with INEOS. His move gives Pinarello-Q36.5 another rider capable of contributing across time trials, stage races and selective one-day events as the team continues to strengthen around Tom Pidcock.
Hayter gets a new start after two years at Soudal Quick-Step
Hayter joined Soudal Quick-Step ahead of the 2025 season after leaving INEOS, but his two-year spell with the Belgian team has been mixed. His strongest performances have continued to come against the clock, where he remains one of Britain’s best specialists.
That was clear again in 2026. Hayter won a fourth British elite men’s time-trial title in June, then came within a fraction of taking one of the biggest wins of his season when Tadej Pogačar beat him by just 0.09 seconds in the opening Vuelta a España time trial in Monaco.
Pinarello-Q36.5 continue major 2027 recruitment push
Hayter is the latest addition to an ambitious 2027 recruitment campaign from Pinarello-Q36.5. The team has already confirmed a series of incoming riders including Mauro Schmid, Pavel Bittner, Andrew August and Sebastian Berwick, adding both proven results and younger riders with room to develop.
The British rider also offers a different skill set from many of those signings. Hayter can win short time trials, handle rolling stage races and finish quickly from reduced groups, while his track background has always given him strong speed and positioning when races become technical.
For Pinarello-Q36.5, the move adds another experienced rider who can race for his own results without needing to be built around as a sole leader. For Hayter, it offers a fresh start after a period in which his best individual performances have not always translated into a consistent run of road results.
The move will also reunite Hayter with Pidcock after the pair previously raced together at INEOS, adding another familiar British connection to a team that has become increasingly prominent at the top end of the calendar.
