TWO NEW SIGNINGS FOR CANYON//SRAM GENERATION AHEAD OF 2027

Two promising young talents are set to take the next step in their careers, with Italy’s Agata Campana and Germany’s Leni Burger joining CANYON//SRAM Generation for 2027 and 2028. Both 18-year-olds recently completed their final season as juniors and will transition to U23 and elite racing with the UCI Continental team, having signed two-year contracts.

Despite being the same age and both brimming with potential, Agata and Leni have taken quite different routes to this next adventure.

Based in Trento, on the doorstep of some spectacular mountainous terrain, Agata is currently one of the brightest stars in Italian junior cycling. She has spent the past two seasons racing on the road with Bft Burzoni-VO2 Team Pink, a well-regarded Italian junior outfit, recording an impressive nine victories and nine further podium finishes across 2025 and 2026. Last year, Agata regularly went head-to-head with future teammate Erja Bianchi, finishing runner-up to her fellow Italian speedster on U19 race debut.

While much of Agata’s junior calendar has been concentrated in Italy, she has still made her presence felt internationally. At the prestigious Omloop van Borsele (a Nations Cup event) in the Netherlands earlier this year, she claimed a stage victory and another podium finish in a field featuring many of the world’s top juniors.

Agata’s prowess is even more unmistakable on the wooden boards of a velodrome. At the European Junior Track Championships in July, she powered to gold in both the scratch and elimination races, and collected silver in the madison. One month later, at the Junior World Championships, she struck gold twice more, claiming two coveted rainbow jerseys. She once again dominated the elimination race and went one better to win the madison while taking silver in the scratch.

Remarkably, Agata had already claimed European and world titles in 2025, albeit in an entirely different event: the team sprint. Excelling in such an explosive race while also delivering on the road is no mean feat, highlighting the exciting power and turn of speed that she brings to both.

Leni, meanwhile, is a different kind of prospect, with roots firmly in mountain biking. A two-time junior silver medallist at the German MTB Championships, she recently put her technical skills and punchy kick on full display during the Junior Women’s Road Race at the European Championships in Slovenia. After her German teammates controlled the pace on the preceding climb, Leni attacked on a key descent, opening up an impressive gap before being joined by three others, including a teammate. The strong move ultimately proved decisive, leaving a peloton packed with pre-race favourites unable to contest the win.

Leni ultimately finished fourth – another encouraging result in a season where she had already showcased her promise, particularly on challenging terrain. She placed fifth at the opening Nations’ Cup event of the year in Spain, where gravel featured in the rolling parcours, and finished in the top 15 in the Junior Women’s Road Race at the World Championships in Montréal. She has also recorded numerous strong results on the domestic circuit, racing against another rider who has already made the transition that Leni is preparing to take – fellow German and current Generation rider Jöelle Messemer.

With a great engine, an open mind and plenty of enthusiasm, Leni is looking forward to joining a team with both global reach and roots close to home:

“I’m super excited and happy to join CANYON//SRAM Generation. It’s always been a big dream of mine to be part of this team, especially as a German rider. The team has always been a huge inspiration for me because of its fighting approach, strong team spirit and winning mentality.

I’m most looking forward to developing as a rider in a professional environment while having fun, gaining experience, and learning from the people around me. I’m also really excited to race against some of the best riders in my age group and to travel the world with the team. Another thing that I’m especially looking forward to is racing stage races with more days, as we don’t really get to experience longer tours during our junior years. They are great opportunities to learn more about racing and gain valuable experience for the future.

At the moment, I enjoy hard, hilly and mountainous races the most, but I’m still figuring out what type of rider I am. I’d love to develop further in this direction, especially because I really enjoy watching the Grand Tours and the hilly one-day races on TV. Being able to race these kinds of events myself would be incredible, and I’m excited to see where I can go.

My biggest dream is to race a Grand Tour one day. Of course, winning a stage would be amazing too, but that’s a huge dream which feels a long way off! For now, the first step would be to simply stand on the start line and enjoy the atmosphere with a big smile on my face. I know there’s a lot of hard work ahead, but I’m really motivated to keep improving.”

While Leni is still discovering where her strengths truly lie, Agata has a clearer idea of where she wants to go.

“My biggest goal over the next five years is to become competitive with the best sprinters in the world and be able to fight for victories against them. I know there is still a lot to learn and improve, but I want to keep working hard step by step, to reach that level.”

For the Italian teenager, it was the all-round approach that made CANYON//SRAM Generation stand out:

“The combination of everything the team offers. I really like the attention they give to their riders, the opportunities to race at a high level, and the importance that they place on every detail, both on and off the bike.”

The chance to join the team is hugely significant for Agata, and she is determined to really make it count:

“For me, joining CANYON//SRAM Generation is a dream come true. It’s an opportunity to grow, learn from some of the best riders in the world, and build my future in an environment that I really believe in. I’m most looking forward to learning as much as possible, discovering how everything works at this level, and challenging myself in new situations. I’m excited to race alongside riders I used to watch on TV and to wear the jersey that I have always dreamed of. I want to make the most of every opportunity, learn from the more experienced riders, and keep improving, both as an athlete and as a person.”

Fresh out of high school, Agata’s interests extend beyond the world of bikes and into the wider one.

“Away from cycling, I love travelling, discovering new cities and places, and having new experiences. I’m curious about the world and I enjoy learning new things, both on and off the bike. For me, travelling is a great way to discover different cultures, meet new people, and see things from a different perspective.”

CANYON//SRAM Generation Team Manager and Sports Director Gosia Jasinska shares her thoughts on both new signings:

“I think Agata will be a very good addition to our sprinting side. We have Erja [Bianchi], our Italian powerhouse, but also others who can show Agata how to race well in elites. I think we can build a good train where Agata will have chances to use her great sprint, but she can also learn how to race for the others. I think we can create alternating opportunities with our sprinters and have a very compatible group for the sprint situations.

Leni showed in the European Championships how much of a fighter she is, and what I like most of all is that she’s not afraid to attack and fight until the very end. We are missing a little bit of this courage in Generation, and I think that she can inspire every rider in our team to not be afraid of attacking, or going really deep.

I think that first, both Agata and Leni must show the others that they are ready and willing to be part of the team. When they do this and work for the team, they will have their opportunities. With Agata, it will be in a sprint. and I think Leni can find strong breakaway chances on the harder courses.

For sure, I believe that they can bring good energy and team spirit, and I have the feeling that they really respect their teammates and staff. I think they will pair well with the Generation culture and values, and will be really important to our team.”