Nippo was active in the peloton for many years as the main sponsor of the Nippo-Vini Fantini team. The construction company then switched to Nippo Delko One Provence and subsequently to Intermarché-Wanty and its development team. However, the Japanese company will sponsor an Italian team again in 2026: the former Solution Tech-Vini Fantini.
For this team, currently registered with the UCI as Toscana Factory, attracting Nippo is a significant boost. The Japanese company announced in a press release that it will not only support the ProTeam structure but also back a new Continental team.
With this partnership, former rider and team manager Serge Parsani aims to revive the project. The team had a disappointing 2025 season. Sporting results were lacking, resulting in a dismal 31st place in the UCI rankings. This has far-reaching sporting consequences: Toscana Factory is now ineligible for a wildcard for the 2026 Giro d'Italia.
This sporting setback has served as a wake-up call for the team. Over the past weeks, the squad has been very active in the transfer market, leading to the signing of Matteo Regnanti, Tilen Finkšt, Ben Granger, and Michele Gazzoli. The latter was once considered a great talent and comes from WorldTeam XDS Astana.
With Nippo's arrival, the team can count on an additional financial boost for the coming years. Currently, ten riders are under contract for the next cycling season.
