Stine Marie Snortheim will join Minimax Cycling Team for the 2027 season after Hitec Products-Fluid Control announced it would close at the end of 2026. The 28-year-old Norwegian has secured a place with the Belgian Continental squad at a difficult moment for women’s racing in her home country.
Minimax confirmed the signing on Instagram on Thursday, 5 November, describing Snortheim as an experienced addition to their roster. The announcement did not specify the length of her contract beyond next season.
A new team following Hitec’s closure
Snortheim spent 2026 racing for Hitec Products-Fluid Control, returning to UCI Continental competition after several seasons with Belgian club squad Keukens Redant. Her programme took her from stage races in Vietnam to the Tour of Britain Women and Eneco Tour Women, as well as one-day races in Belgium and France.
She finished 22nd overall at the BIWASE Cup in March and 50th in the general classification at the October Eneco Tour Women. Those results are not headline wins, but her schedule has given her experience of both the Continental calendar and racing against Women’s WorldTour squads.
The move follows Hitec’s decision to end its 18-season history because of a lack of funding. The Norwegian organisation has helped develop generations of riders, and its closure leaves the country’s domestic pathway into professional women’s racing significantly weakened.
Speaking to Norwegian outlet SykkelNews, Snortheim said she welcomed the opportunity to remain at Continental level and return to a Belgian-based environment. She also described Hitec’s closure as a major loss for Scandinavian women’s road cycling, particularly for riders who need a stepping stone between junior racing and the WorldTour.
Norwegian connections at Minimax
Snortheim will not be the only Norwegian in Minimax colours. Camilla Rånes Bye joined for 2026, while Marthe Dolven is another arrival for 2027. Snortheim said having compatriots already within the squad would make the transition easier, alongside the experience she gained from racing for Keukens Redant.
Minimax have been active in building their 2027 roster, with Billy Goossens also confirmed as a new signing. The Wallonia-based team has set out ambitions to develop its international programme and, over time, progress towards ProTeam level.
For Snortheim, the immediate importance is more practical: a confirmed place on a Continental squad and another season of international racing after the disappearance of her current team.
