Kellys Factory Team Kicks Off the 2026 Season in Portugal – First Race Done!

20. April 2026

Kellys Factory Team launched the 2026 season in style, heading straight to Portugal for the opening round of the IXS EDC European Cup.

Kellys Factory Team Kicks Off the 2026 Season in Portugal – First Race Done!

New Lineup, New Challenges, New Kellys Bike

We've just introduced our new team additions – and they've already got their first major race of the season under their belts! Alex, Viktor, Štěpán and Denis headed to the first round of the European Cup, held – just like last year – in the Portuguese town of Santiago de Besteiros.

The guys made the most of their time there – they spent the weekend before the race on the competition track itself, and then several more days at the legendary Lousa Bike Park, a world-renowned pre-season destination for testing and training. It was the perfect opportunity to get properly acquainted with their new Kellys bikes and fine-tune every last detail.

The Track, the Weather and a Serious Challenge

Compared to last year, the track in Santiago de Besteiros went through major changes – new sections, bermed corners and big jumps were all added. The warm weather sounded appealing on paper, but in reality it meant a dusty and unpredictable surface. And to top it all off, the wind was blowing hard all weekend.

The wind was particularly dangerous on the new big jumps – the situation became serious enough that organizers completely closed one of the jumps on finals day and introduced a detour. Rider safety came first.

The competition? Ruthless. Over 20 World Cup riders lined up in the Elite men's category – including those with victories and gold medals to their names. A clear sign that Kellys Factory Team had to go all-out from the very first race to keep up with the best in the world.

What Did the Kellys Factory Team Guys Have to Say?

Štěpán Hurta (Junior category) – 16th place qualifying, 16th place finals

"The race weekend in Portugal was a good one overall. The track was tough because of the dust and wind, and it was also pretty hard that the track kept changing and breaking up more with every run. Both timed runs went well for me, which is a positive start to the season. I still need to work on my speed before the next races to push the results even higher."

Solid start, Štěpán! Both timed runs completed – that's exactly the foundation you build on.

Denis Kohút (Elite men's category) – 34th place qualifying, 34th place finals

"The first race of the season is behind us. The track in Portugal isn't the most technically demanding, but the wind and extreme dryness made it a real challenge to find the limit – going fast while staying safe. It was also my first race on the new bike, so that always makes it a little special. I'm glad the times came out reasonably well, because the feeling on the bike was good too. I think it's a solid start to the season."

First race on a new Kellys bike – and Denis is happy. That makes us doubly pleased!

Viktor Banič (U17 Cadet category) – 48th place qualifying (crash), 20th place finals

"On Friday we had very hot conditions and managed to get in 4 training runs, which isn't a lot, but it was great that we'd been here riding a week before the race and already knew the track. Saturday brought qualifying, which didn't go well for me – I had a nasty crash on a jump in the first 700 meters due to the wind, but I picked myself up and made it to the finish. On Sunday I did two more training runs, got myself ready and headed to the start gate. The final run went pretty well apart from a few sections, and I even had to go around a slower rider I caught up to. I'm reasonably happy with the result for a first race, but I need to keep pushing and be ready for the challenges ahead this year."

Getting back up after a crash and finishing the run – then putting in a 20th place finish in the final? Viktor's determination speaks for itself!

Alex Baňák (U17 Cadet category) – 25th place qualifying, 28th place finals

"The track was extremely dusty and slippery. I'm not very happy with my riding – I was missing pace and making unnecessary mistakes. It's the first race of the season though, and I know what to work on. The most important thing right now is getting into race rhythm. What does make me happy is that the new bike performed brilliantly. We keep pushing!"

Alex knows where he has room to improve – and that's half the battle. And the fact that the Kellys bike performed brilliantly? That's a win for the whole team.

What's Next?

The first round of the European Cup is in the books and Kellys Factory Team has a clear picture of where they stand and where they're headed. The next races are approaching fast and the guys are putting in the work.

Follow us on social media – behind-the-scenes updates, training content and race results will be coming regularly. The 2026 season is just getting started! 🚵