Pavel Bittner will leave Team Picnic PostNL at the end of the 2026 season after agreeing a two-year contract with Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
The 23-year-old Czech sprinter will officially join the team on 1 January 2027, with his new deal covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Pinarello Q36.5 confirmed the signing as part of its continued investment in younger riders capable of developing into winners at the highest level.
Bittner arrives with considerable top-level experience despite still being in the early stages of his career. He has already completed two editions of the Tour de France and is a Grand Tour stage winner, having beaten Wout van Aert in a photo finish on Stage 5 of the 2024 Vuelta a España.
Bittner has continued to progress in 2026
The Czech rider has not yet developed into a prolific winner, but his 2026 season has provided further evidence that his outright speed is good enough to compete against the leading sprinters.
Bittner finished second at Scheldeprijs and also reached the podium at the Bredene Koksijde Classic and on the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve.
He then returned to the Tour de France as Team Picnic PostNL’s main fast finisher. ProCyclingUK’s 2026 Tour de France team-by-team guide highlighted Bittner as the centre of the team’s sprint plans, supported by the experience of John Degenkolb and Niklas Märkl.
His performances have increasingly suggested a rider moving beyond the status of promising young sprinter and towards someone capable of becoming a regular contender in major races.
Bittner said the direction of the Pinarello Q36.5 project was a significant factor in making the move.
“From the outside I could already see how much this Team has grown over the last couple of seasons. Every conversation confirmed the same feeling: it’s an ambitious project, but also one where people genuinely enjoy racing together.”
He added that the atmosphere within the team had also appealed to him.
“That family atmosphere really mattered to me because I believe you perform at your best when you truly enjoy the environment you’re part of.”
Pinarello Q36.5 continues to strengthen its roster
Bittner’s arrival is another significant addition to a team that has steadily increased the quality and depth of its squad.
The process accelerated with Tom Pidcock’s move to Q36.5 ahead of the 2025 season, while the team subsequently added riders including Fred Wright on a three-year contract.
Bittner gives the team something slightly different: a young sprinter who has already won at Grand Tour level but still has considerable development ahead of him.
The Czech rider also highlighted the team’s close relationship with its performance partners, including Pinarello, Q36.5 and Amacx, as an attraction.
“What really excites me is joining a team built around a genuine performance philosophy. In modern cycling every detail makes a difference, and having brands like Pinarello, Q36.5 and Amacx fully integrated into the project creates a real advantage.”
For Bittner, however, the sporting target is straightforward. He wants to convert an increasing number of podiums and near misses into victories.
“Over the last couple of seasons I’ve become a more complete rider. I’ve learned to stay calmer in the decisive moments and I know there’s still another step to take. My ambition is to become a consistent winner, fight for victories in the biggest races and keep improving every year.”
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Photo Credit: Cor Vos
Ryder sees Bittner as part of the team’s long-term future
Team principal Doug Ryder said Bittner’s mentality had been as important as his results when identifying him as a transfer target.
“Pavel represents exactly the type of rider we want to build our future around. His talent has never been in question, but what impressed us most is his mindset. He’s ambitious, analytical and constantly looking for ways to improve, qualities that fit perfectly with the culture we are building as a team.”
Ryder also pointed to the amount of major-race experience Bittner has already accumulated before his 24th birthday.
“At just 23 years of age he has already experienced two Tour de France campaigns, won a Grand Tour stage and continued to show remarkable progression this season. We believe his best years are still ahead of him and we’re excited to support his development as he continues his journey towards becoming one of the leading sprinters in professional cycling.”
Bittner, born in Olomouc on 29 October 2002, developed through the DSM structure before establishing himself at WorldTour level.
His breakthrough came in 2024 when two stage victories at the Vuelta a Burgos were followed by his first Grand Tour success at the Vuelta a España.
The move to Pinarello Q36.5 from 1 January 2027 gives him a new environment in which to take the next step. He has already shown that he can beat elite sprinters on his best day. The challenge over the next two seasons will be doing it more consistently.
