Factor confirms its line-up of sponsored riders & teams for 2022

Above: Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Anna Kiesenhofer

9 March 2022 - Factor, the premium performance bicycle brand, today announces its 2022 global roster of sponsored athletes and teams, set to compete at the highest level across a range of disciplines.

With each rider and professional outfit sharing Factor’s bold convictions as a fiercely independent challenger brand bringing a fresh approach to the established competition, the line-up includes a mix of renewed partnerships and like-minded athletes new to the Factor family for this season.

2022 sees Factor partner with a series of strong teams, including UCI WorldTeam Israel Premier Tech. Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, alongside big names such as Giacomo Nizzolo and Michael Woods, will ride Factor’s race-winning Ostro VAM, O2 VAM and HANZŌ.

Also competing on Factor’s road and time-trial bikes this year are two teams competing in the UCI Women’s racing calendar. InstaFund Pro Cycling Team, a UCI Women’s Continental team committed to operating with carbon neutrality are joined by Parkhotel Valkenburg Cycling Team, recent competitors in Strade Bianche Donne.

Factor is also partnered with Australia Cycling Academy (a not-for-profit cycling development program and UCI Continental team), Team UKYO (UCI Continental) and Team Bryton Icefield (a semi-professional team founded in 2021).

In the gravel scene, Factor has partnered with the Amani Racing Team - a purpose-driven project set up to create opportunities for aspiring racers in East-Africa’s cycling scene and provide them a gateway into the international racing calendar.

In addition to a strong lineup of teams, Factor’s individual athlete roster highlighted below encompasses a wealth of talent across road, time trial, triathlon and gravel.

Above: Anna Kiesenhofer

Anna Kiesenhofer - Olympic Gold Medalist (Road)

On July 25th 2021, Anna crossed the line solo to take a remarkable, and unlikely, gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games after a brave attack from distance. Riding without a professional team contract against the biggest names in the sport, the result plunged the 31 year old Austrian into the limelight. In her partnership with the innovative team at Factor, Anna has already hit the ground running, and has so far joined Israel Premier Tech’s training camp in Girona in preparation for this year’s UCI Road World Championships in Australia. Anna will ride a custom Ostro VAM, sporting a special Olympic design in celebration of her gold medal, alongside the HANZŌ.

Anna Kiesenhofer said: "I am very excited to join the Factor family. Factor have rapidly earned themselves the reputation of building some of the best bikes in the world. What stands out for me is their performance-driven approach and the fact that they really listen to riders' feedback, taking into account their suggestions and finding solutions. This is why I signed a three year contract with them. Not only are the bikes fast now, but the innovative approach of Factor means that they will continue to be so in the future."

Above: Geoffrey Langat

Geoffrey Langat - Ultra-Distance Specialist (Gravel) 

A former road rider who recently transitioned to the burgeoning ultra-distance gravel scene, Geoff rides for the Amani Racing Team. The 31 year old from Kenya has enjoyed a string of solid results in road races such as Tour du Rwanda, Tour of China and the Tour of Qinghai Lake but his recent performances in the gravel scene have understandably attracted attention. In September 2021, Geoff competed in the ultra-distance Jeroboam 300 in Franciacorta, Italy, beating a strong field of seasoned riders.

This year, Factor Bikes is proud to provide Geoff and the Amani Racing Team with its LS gravel bike. The team will target the Race around Rwanda in March 2022, now riding equipment that places them on an equal playing field with their competitors. 

Above: Dylan Johnson

Dylan Johnson - Racer, Cycle Coach and YouTuber (Road & Gravel)

Dylan is a racer and cycle coach with more than ten years experience in the field. His YouTube channel, with a subscriber base in excess of 100,000, covers the science of the sport - with popular videos analysing best practices in training, recovery and even bike setup. 

Factor is pleased to partner with Dylan for 2022, during which he will ride the LS Gravel bike at several key events in the racing calendar, including the Lifetime Grand Prix, BWR Series, and other high profile US gravel races. 

Dylan Johnson said: “I'm thrilled to work with a company that's focused on making their bikes as fast as possible, for example the LS gravel bike is trimmed down and doesn't have any unnecessary rack or fender mounts that you don't need like so many bikes in this category. It's not an adventure bike that you could also use for gravel racing, it's a gravel race bike. The result is obviously a much lighter bike and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm now more confident than ever that speed is not being left on the table when it comes to my equipment.”  

Above: Phil Gaimon

Phil Gaimon - Ex-Pro, YouTuber and Philanthropist (Road)

Phil is an ex-professional cyclist who retired in 2016 and now runs a popular YouTube channel which documents, in his own words, the ‘worst retirement ever’. The 36 year old is a long-term partner of Factor, chosen for his honest and authentic take on the sport, and the engaged community he has built around him. In 2020, Phil broke the Everesting record in aid of children’s charity No Kid Hungry, setting a time of 8 hours, 4 minutes and six seconds. His admirable fundraising efforts for the charity have since contributed several hundred thousand dollars towards ending child hunger in America. 

Factor will continue its partnership with Phil through 2022, supplying its 02 VAM bike.

Phil Gaimon said: "The theme of my retirement has been fun content, cycling advocacy, and charity, except I still love smashing uphill. So the KOMs and climbing challenges that I do to spread that message are still physically ambitious and I can't compromise on equipment. I'm lucky to have found a brand whose love for climbing matches mine (okay fine, but it comes close!), while also appreciating the non-traditional, extracurricular activities that I believe in."

Above: Beth Potter

Beth Potter - European Triathlon Champion (Triathlon)

Beth Potter joined Factor’s roster of partners in 2021 and will continue with the brand through 2022. A former Olympic long-distance runner, representing Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Games, Beth has since turned her attention to the world of triathlon, to great success. In 2019 she won the European Triathlon Championships, adding the title to a palmares that also includes the unofficial womens’ 5km run record, which she ran in just 14 minutes and 41 seconds. Beth rides the Factor OSTRO VAM and ONE and will target the 2022 CommonWealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

Beth Potter said: “It’s really great to be working with a brand that is always pushing the boundaries of performance. It gives me a lot of confidence going into a race that I am riding a totally world class bike; and all the watts I work so hard for in training are not being wasted!”

Above: Ruby West and Adam Roberge

Adam Roberge (Gravel)

Adam Roberge is a four-time national champion of Canada across road and TT disciplines, now competing predominantly in the gravel scene. Adam will be targeting the Lifetime Grand Prix this year as well as defending his 2021 BWR Triple Crown title, riding the LS Gravel.

Adam Roberge said: "This year, it’s really special to have the power to choose which brands I’m working with, as more of a privateer style athlete, and working with Factor is a great fit for me. The bikes are so great, and the technology and development going on behind the scenes for each bike is incredible. As the sport of gravel grows, it’s cool seeing how the bikes are developing and changing as the sport changes, and I love Factor’s gravel bike. I feel like the company really listens to its athletes and takes their views and feelings seriously."

Ruby West (Cyclo-cross)

Adam is joined by fellow Canadian Ruby West - cyclo-cross rider and track cyclist. In her promising career, Ruby has so far represented her home nation five times at the five consecutive UCI World Cyclo-cross Championships and is currently training on track as part of her ambition to target the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Away from the boards, Ruby rides a custom LS Gravel bike.

Ruby West said: "To be partnered with Factor is huge for me. It's a company who believes in me and has been so kind to me since day 1. Factor has an appreciation for privateer riders and respects the mission we are trying to accomplish, no matter if it's on the road, gravel, mountain bike or track, I feel their support behind me 100%. Since stepping on to my first Factor bike, I've never looked back, I was instantly blown away by the quality of the machine I was riding. Their bikes are light, responsive, can handle whatever you throw at them and look amazing while doing it and I'm just so honoured that I get to spend every day using them."

Commenting on the 2022 athlete roster, Factor CEO Rob Gitelis said:  “We are so proud and excited about our 2022 teams and athletes. Collectively, they represent cycling from so many backgrounds, countries and disciplines; we can’t wait to see all the great things they will accomplish and the positive messages they will spread aboard their Factor bikes this year.”

To find out more about Factor’s full roster of team and rider partnerships, visit www.factorbikes.com/teams-athletes/.