The Specialized Off-Road Team is heading into 2026 with one hell of a roster. The newly announced super team comes with a renewed focus, an international race calendar, and we finally learned where Keegan Swenson landed.
Specialized Off Road 2026
Specialized’s 2026 lineup is quite a blend of riders: former and current world champions, versatile crossover talent, and riders capable of winning across disciplines. Rather than chasing one-series results, Specialized Off Road is taking a global approach to off-road racing next season. The big targets are mostly marquee events across marathon MTB and gravel.
Race Calendar
On the calendar so far are the Absa Cape Epic, the Life Time Grand Prix, UCI Gravel World Series, Gravel Earth, Gravel Burn, and both the UCI Marathon and Gravel World Championships. Along the way, expect to see the crew at a select few additional international races.
The season kicks off in February for the Specialized Off Road Team at Santa Vall, with the entire team racing aboard the Specialized Crux.
Velocio Joins as Official Apparel Partner
One of the most significant off-bike updates for 2026 is the addition of Velocio as an official team partner. Velocio was the apparel sponsor for Keegan and the Santa Cruz htSQD. The Santa Cruz htSQD helped Velocio develop its newest hydration vest and race kits; it’s no surprise to see them accompany Keegan on his next adventure.
Velocio GM Sarah Leishman says the partnership builds directly on work already done with Keegan Swenson during the 2025 season, including the development of a proprietary race suit. Expanding that collaboration across the whole team enables Velocio to advance gravel-specific product design. We’re thinking this means more hydration solutions and pocket-heavy skinsuits, ideally with sustainability-focused materials.
Swenson echoed that sentiment, noting Velocio’s willingness to listen to athlete feedback and test unconventional ideas, along with its renewed apparel program that emphasizes environmental responsibility—still rare in performance race kits.
SRAM | RockShox
SRAM and Rockshox are both signed on for the 2026 season with the new Specialized Off-Road Team. This partnership also comes as no surprise. The Specialized Team worked with both SRAM and Rockshox last season, and so did the Santa Cruz htSQD. We expect to see a lot of RED XPLR builds and hopefully some extra wild faring forks in the mix as well (pictured above).
Specialized and Roval will supply the remainder of the team’s equipment. That means – shoes, tires, bikes, handlebars, and wheels.
2026 Specialized Off-Road Team Roster
If these names are new to you, it only takes a second to search, and you’ll know exactly why they are part of this new Specialized powerhouse.
Womens Squad
Annika Langvad heads into the season as one of the most decorated off-road racers of her generation. With multiple world titles and six Cape Epic victories on her résumé, she’s long been a benchmark for consistency at the very top of the sport. After returning to elite competition with immediate impact, Langvad looks as composed and dangerous as ever.
Geerike Schreurs comes from a background spanning marathon, XC mountain biking, and high-level gravel racing. Schreurs has shown clear upward momentum in recent seasons, with strong performances in UCI events, Traka, and Unbound underscoring her growing presence on the international stage.
Sofia Gomez Villafañe remains one of the most dynamic riders in modern gravel racing. A proven winner at the sport’s biggest events, she combines power with sharp race instincts. Her aggressive approach and tactical awareness have consistently delivered standout results, making her a consistent threat across long-distance gravel and marathon formats.
Mens Squad
Keegan Swenson continues to anchor the men’s program as one of the most versatile off-road racers in North America. Equally comfortable across gravel, marathon, and cross-country disciplines, Swenson’s resume includes multiple overall titles and marquee victories. In 2026, he’ll carry that momentum into Marathon MTB racing worldwide while wearing the World Champion jersey.
Mads Würtz Schmidt brings proven WorldTour pedigree and late-race punch to the gravel scene. A former road World Champion, Würtz Schmidt has transitioned seamlessly into off-road racing. He’ll line up in the European Champion jersey at gravel races around the globe in 2026.
Matthew Beers rounds out the roster with unmatched stage-race experience. A multiple-time Cape Epic champion, Beers is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most dependable engines in marathon racing. His power, experience, and team-first mentality make him a cornerstone of the Specialized Off-Road Team.
We’re excited to see what the 2026 season has in store. One thing is for sure: each rider listed above will be marked for every single race they line up for. Check out the gear at Specialized.com.
