So it’s with immense pride and excitement that we bring you our latest adventure: a three-rider cyclocross program that will compete throughout the ‘cross season and feature two new signings and one of our most versatile riders.

Nina Berton, a former U23 Luxembourg cyclocross champion, will be joined by two recruits, Filippo Agostinacchio and his younger brother Mattia Agostinacchio.

Nina needs no introduction, having joined EF Education-Oatly at the start of 2025 and instantly slotted into our successful women’s team. Mattia is set to step up and join our men’s WorldTour team in 2026, coming to us as a junior cyclocross world champion. His older brother, Filippo, won a stage of the Giro d'Italia Next Gen earlier this year, is a two-time U23 Italian cyclocross champion, and is a cyclocross World Cup veteran.

“This is a fun experiment for us, but one that we want to excel at,” said EF Pro Cycling CEO Jonathan Vaughters.

“From the start of the Alternative calendar with Lachlan Morton, we’ve always done some pretty experimental stuff that’s been a bit on the edges. This is a continuation of that, as we’ve always believed that cycling should be as inclusive as possible. We have always wanted to bring as many people to the sport as possible, so having a cyclocross team allows us to connect with and engage a whole new audience. We’re starting with a junior world champion, Mattia, his brother Filippo, and Nina, which feels like a good place to begin. And in terms of support, we’re working hard and cracking heads to ensure that our athletes are thoroughly supported,” Jonathan added.

Mattia, who recently competed in the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, is looking forward to turning his attention to the cyclocross calendar that kicks off in the coming weeks. The Italian will participate in a full race program before heading to the cyclocross World Championships next year.

“This is a really exciting new team, and I can’t wait to get started,” Mattia said.

“It’ll be the first time that I wear the EF Pro Cycling kit and race on their Cannondale bikes. Of course, as a world champion, cyclocross is super important to me, so I want to give it my all. I also believe that starting to race for the team in cyclocross will really help me adapt and improve over the winter before I start to focus on the 2026 road season. Having my brother on the cyclocross team, and of course, racing with Nina, will be so much fun,” the Italian said.

For Nina, the cyclocross initiative allows her to maintain and even expand her roots within the discipline. The former U23 national champion always dusts off the cyclocross bike in the winter and uses the off-road discipline to remain competitive and hone her bike skills. The new cyclocross program will allow Nina to expand her race program, with her complete schedule set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

“When the team first told me about the idea, it was a bit of a surprise, but it sounds like a really enjoyable team,” Nina said.

“We see with many riders how cyclocross can help you on the road because you can learn a lot from the discipline. It's also something cool to have in your program for the winter. Everyone in Luxembourg who comes up through the ranks participates in cyclocross because it’s part of their development. I’ve never done a full cyclocross season, but it was always an essential part of my off-season. I hope to do a bit more this year. I enjoy it, and with the team’s support, it just makes it more enjoyable and provides me with an excellent structure. I’m looking forward to getting on my cross bike,” she added.

Get ready for an exciting winter of cyclocross!