Long period of uncertainty over, Ethan Hayter finally knows where he will be racing next year: 'a good fit for me.'

A few years ago, Hayter was considered one of the greatest talents in the peloton. He won the Tour of Poland and claimed stage victories in the Tour de Romandie and the Tour of the Basque Country. After a few difficult years, he joined Soudal Quick-Step in 2025, where he primarily showcased his time-trial skills.

He demonstrated that again during the recent Vuelta. In Monaco, he came agonizingly close to victory in the opening stage and to the red jersey, but Tadej Pogacar was just nine hundredths of a second faster.

He was also frequently seen on the attack during that race. It was mainly to put himself in the spotlight, as his contract with Soudal Quick-Step had expired and was not renewed.

But Pinarello - Q36.5 has given the British sprinter exactly what he was looking for.

“I’d describe myself as a bit of an all-rounder,” he says on his new team’s website. “Over the past few years, I’ve focused more on time trials, but I’ve also raced sprints from small groups, and I really enjoy tougher races and stage races.”

And so Hayter hopes to breathe new life into his career with the team that includes Tom Pidcock, among others. He wants to be more than just a time trial specialist.

“In the Vuelta, after coming so close to victory in the time trial, it was great to just dive right into the race and go for it. I want to keep doing that.”

Pinarello - Q36.5 isn't known as a team full of time-trial specialists, but it is a team that doesn't shy away from innovation.

“Pinarello Q36.5 was one of the teams I really wanted to ride for. From the outside, it looked like a very well-organized team that was developing exceptionally well. I already know a few of the riders, and I felt like it would be a good fit for me.”

Team boss Doug Ryder is very pleased with his new addition. “Ethan is a true racer, and that’s what makes us so excited to bring him onto our team. He has tremendous stamina, he’s very strong in time trials, and, as we saw once again in the Vuelta, he’s willing to take the race by the horns and create opportunities rather than wait for them.”

He also hopes that Hayter can return to his former level of performance.

“We also believe that Ethan has much more to offer. He’s joining an ambitious environment where drivers and our technical partners work closely together to deliver the best performance. That curiosity and attention to detail align perfectly with our vision. We look forward to providing him with the platform where he can showcase his full potential.”