Alberto Dainese will be back in the WorldTour in 2026 after signing a two-year deal with Soudal Quick-Step. The 27-year-old Italian sprinter from Abano Terme makes the move from Tudor Pro Cycling, returning to the sport’s top tier with ambitions of adding to his Grand Tour stage wins and contributing to the team’s long-running sprint success.
Dainese began his professional journey with SEG Racing Academy in 2018 before joining Team Sunweb the following year. He stayed with the German outfit through its rebrand to Team DSM, producing his most notable results in 2022 and 2023. That run included stage victories at the Giro d’Italia in both seasons, followed by a memorable win on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España in 2023, still the last Italian stage victory at the Spanish Grand Tour. Earlier results included wins at the Herald Sun Tour, Czech Tour, Tour de Bretagne, and Arctic Race of Norway.
A move to Tudor Pro Cycling in 2024 took him out of the WorldTour but didn’t stop him from winning. This April he triumphed on stage 3 of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour, demonstrating his continued sharpness in fast finishes. Now, the transfer to Soudal Quick-Step offers the opportunity to work alongside one of the sport’s most established lead-out structures, a setup that has helped produce some of the biggest sprint names of the past two decades.
“I have been dreaming about joining the Wolfpack since I was a kid,” said Dainese. “I remember watching the team on TV and being impressed by their mentality and winning culture. I’m really happy to finally get this opportunity. I look forward to giving my best every single time, contributing to as many victories as possible, and sharing some great moments with the squad.”
Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré believes Dainese can quickly deliver results. “Alberto is a fast guy and we are convinced he has plenty to show in the coming years. He’s proven himself in bunch sprints not just in Grand Tours, but also in demanding one-day races like the Belgian semi-classics. Together, we can aim for some beautiful things in the next two years.”
The signing strengthens the team’s options for bunch finishes, with Dainese bringing proven speed and the experience to perform in both stage races and one-day events. With the calendar offering multiple opportunities for pure sprinters, his return to the WorldTour sets the stage for another chapter in an already impressive career.
