The 2025 season was a tough ride for Human Powered Health, but 2026 is showing promising signs, and Marit Raaijmakers is at the heart of it, showcasing a dynamic Factor bike setup!
After a challenging 2025 season where Human Powered Health only managed to secure a national championship title for Kathrin Schweinberger and a single UCI 1.1 victory at the Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx by Thalita De Jong, the team found themselves at the bottom of the WorldTour rankings, sharing this spot with the now-relegated Roland-Le Dévoluy. However, the dawn of 2026 has brought a refreshing change in momentum.
At the recent Women's Tour Down Under, the team witnessed a strong performance from Nina Buijsman, who secured a respectable sixth place in the general classification. Crucially, she was supported by the talented 26-year-old Marit Raaijmakers, who is now embarking on her fifth season with Human Powered Health in the WorldTour. Raaijmakers herself began to hint at her stage-racing prowess in 2025 during the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femení, where she achieved two top-10 finishes across the three stages and concluded the event in 15th place overall on the general classification.
While equipment advancements in both the men's and women's professional cycling circuits have been relatively modest since 2025, Human Powered Health has gained access to a noteworthy new machine from their long-standing sponsor, Factor. This new addition is the Factor One aero bike, an advanced aerodynamic offering.
But here's where it gets interesting... The Factor One was first glimpsed in competitive action back in June at the Critérium du Dauphiné, but it wasn't officially unveiled to the public until December. As is the norm with most new aero bike launches, Factor boldly claims this to be the fastest and most aerodynamically sophisticated bike currently available. While this assertion is certainly open to spirited debate within the cycling community, the Factor One undeniably stakes a claim for the most unconventional design. Its notably wide-set fork legs have even drawn comparisons to the distinctive Hope/Lotus HB.1 track bike that was famously ridden by the Team GB squad.
During the Tour Down Under, Marit Raaijmakers had a dual choice of Factor bikes at her disposal, with the Ostro VAM serving as a capable complement to the One. While the One is unequivocally engineered for pure aerodynamic advantage, the Ostro VAM proved to be the more practical selection for stage three. This particular stage featured a challenging double ascent of the Corkscrew Road climb, making an all-rounder bike a more sensible and strategic choice for tackling the varied terrain.
This choice of bikes highlights a fascinating aspect of professional cycling: the delicate balance between pure speed and versatility. Do you believe that teams should prioritize specialized aero bikes for flat stages, or is a more adaptable all-rounder always the superior choice, even if it means a slight aerodynamic compromise?
We'd love to hear your thoughts! Do you agree with the team's strategy, or would you have opted for a different approach? Let us know in the comments below!
