The KMC team is proud to announce a new technical partnership with Italian wheel specialist Ursus, which will supply the team with high-performance wheelsets for the 2026 racing season across mountain bike, gravel, and beach racing disciplines at both national and international level.The collaboration brings together two performance-focused organizations with a shared commitment to engineering excellence, reliability, and competition at the highest level.
For mountain bike competition, the team’s Lapierre XR bikes will be equipped with the Ursus Proxima M carbon wheelset. Developed for modern cross-country racing, the Proxima M features a lightweight 30mm internal carbon rim combined with Ursus’ proprietary hubs, manufactured in-house in Rosà, Italy. The wheelset is built using Sapim CX-Ray spokes in a triple-cross lacing pattern with aluminum Sapim nipples, creating a structure designed to deliver low weight, stiffness, precision, and durability under race conditions.
For gravel racing, KMC riders will use the Ursus Proxima G on their Lapierre CrossHill bikes. Designed for high-speed performance on gravel roads, cobblestones, and technical descents, the Proxima G combines aerodynamic efficiency with a wider rim profile optimized to improve stability, traction, and vibration damping on rough terrain.
“I am very pleased that we have found Ursus as a partner for our team,” said KMC Team Manager Martin Schuttert. “They manufacture their own hubs in Rosà, Italy, where the wheels are also assembled. As a mechanical engineer, I have a strong appreciation for manufacturing companies with real technical expertise, and I am very much looking forward to this collaboration with Ursus.”
Entirely designed and assembled in Italy, Ursus wheels are recognized for combining advanced engineering, manufacturing precision, and race-focused performance. Through this partnership, the KMC team strengthens its technical platform for the upcoming season across multiple off-road disciplines.