PIRELLI ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH NETCOMPANY INEOS
THE ITALIAN COMPANY BECOMES OFFICIAL TYRE PARTNER OF THE RENOWNED UCI WORLDTEAM, JOINING FORCES IN TYRE SUPPLY AND JOINT DEVELOPMENT
The partnership between Pirelli and the British WorldTeam combines technological innovation and a shared commitment to performance, driving the development of increasingly advanced road cycling tyres. The team’s bike, fitted with Pirelli tyres, is on display at the Pirelli stand at Rouleur Live in London.
Milan (Italy), 12 November 2026 – Pirelli and Netcompany INEOS announce a three-year partnership which, starting from 2027, will see the Milan-based company become the Official Tyre Partner of one of the most prestigious teams in international professional cycling.
The partnership is underpinned by a shared vision: the constant pursuit of performance through innovation, technological advancement and meticulous attention to every detail that can make a difference to the final result.
The team’s bike, fitted with Pirelli tyres, will be on display at the Pirelli stand during Rouleur Live, the renowned cycling event in London, from today until Saturday 14 November. The partnership will focus on the development and evaluation of technical solutions tailored to the demands of WorldTour cycling, in a setting where efficiency, reliability and performance must go hand in hand across a wide range of conditions, from Grand Tours to the five Monuments.
TWO NEW TYRES AT THE HEART OF THE PARTNERSHIP
The technical assessment of two tyres from Pirelli’s range was a key step towards establishing the partnership, which sees the company become the team’s new Official Tyre Partner.
The PZERO™ RACE SL-R, a road tyre designed with particular attention to aerodynamics and rolling efficiency, is intended for situations in which speed and aerodynamic efficiency are key. Its design aims to reduce both forms of resistance to forward motion – aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance – to support efficient pedalling. These characteristics are particularly important in fast races and in situations where maintaining high speeds is crucial. The PZERO RACE RS, meanwhile, has been developed to offer a balance of rolling efficiency, grip, protection and predictable cornering behaviour. This combination is designed to give riders confidence and stability across different road surfaces and in varying racing and weather conditions.
The partnership also reflects the close alignment between Pirelli’s commitment to developing high-performance technologies for cycling and Netcompany INEOS’s approach to preparation and performance.
Aldo Nicotera, Head of Moto & Cycling Business Pirelli comments: “At the highest level of sport, success depends on a constant search for technological solutions that can deliver ever-greater performance. This is an approach we know well and one we are now bringing to our collaboration with Netcompany INEOS. We share the belief that optimising every detail can make a difference and contribute to outstanding results, together with an unwavering focus on innovation, quality and precision. We will have the opportunity to work alongside world-class technical staff and athletes, making the most of this exchange and gathering valuable insights to drive the ongoing development of increasingly advanced tyres that meet the needs of both professional riders and cycling enthusiasts.”
The pursuit of so-called marginal gains – small improvements which, when combined, can make a significant difference to overall performance – has been central to Netcompany INEOS’s philosophy since the team’s inception. In this context, the tyre is a key component of the rider-and-bike system, where rolling efficiency, grip, aerodynamics and reliability must work together to deliver the best possible results. With the P ZERO Race SL-R, Pirelli has demonstrated its ability to overcome seemingly conflicting performance trade-offs in this area too, such as the balance between rolling resistance and grip. This is made possible through the development of proprietary, patented technologies such as PAAS®, which continue to push the boundaries of performance.
Finally, technical feedback from Netcompany INEOS riders will play an important role in the development and validation of Pirelli products. Pirelli’s technicians will work closely with the team’s engineers and research and development management, integrating the feedback gathered on the road into the established testing protocols of Pirelli’s Outdoor Testing Department. Insights from real-world conditions will help drive the continuous improvement of tyre performance.
Geraint Thomas – Director of Racing, comments: “Pirelli bring a huge amount of technical expertise and a real commitment to innovation, so it's exciting to have them working closely with our riders and performance team.
"It's not just about the equipment we race on, but how we can work together to keep developing, so. we're really looking forward to building that relationship and seeing what we can achieve together.”
Pirelli tyres are scheduled to make their racing debut on Netcompany INEOS’s Pinarello bikes at the Santos Tour Down Under, starting on 16 January 2027.