Every season has to start somewhere. For Donovan Racing in 2026, it started on an island.

The team made the trip to Puerto Rico for one of the first major UCI races of the year, and from the moment they arrived, it was clear this trip was going to be more than just a race. It was a shakeout, a team builder, and for a lot of athletes, a first taste of what racing at the highest level actually feels like.

First Races, Big Lessons

For many athletes on the roster, this was the earliest race start of their careers. After months of indoor training through the winter, stepping straight into a UCI-level field was a jolt in the best possible way. The competition was a level above what most of them have seen in the states, and that was the point. You do not know how far you need to go until you see where the best in the world are.

Every athlete left Puerto Rico knowing exactly what work has to be done. That clarity is worth more than any early season result. The team came home not discouraged but locked in, with a clear picture of what the rest of 2026 needs to look like.

Courses Worth Talking About

The racing itself was a highlight. Technical, flowing, and demanding in all the right ways, the courses challenged every rider to think as much as they pedaled. One athlete noted that a year ago, some of that terrain would not have felt comfortable. This year it did. That is quiet, real progress.

The mix of technical sections and fast flow kept things exciting and gave everyone a chance to learn something new about their riding. Puerto Rico delivered the kind of racing that you remember long after the results are posted.

More Than Just Racing

Here is what does not show up in the results: the team dinners, the beach time, the laughing and joking around as a group that is still figuring out who they are together.

The team cooked dinner together. They spent time on the beach. They connected in the way you only can when you are far from home and surrounded by people chasing the same thing. One athlete summed it up perfectly: “I definitely have no complaints about living the island life.”

And then there was the moment on race day when everyone lined up in the same kits, helmets, and bikes for the first time. For a team that is still building its identity, that image said something. This is real. This is happening.

Setting the Bar for the Rest of 2026

Puerto Rico was a starting point, not a measuring stick. The team knows where the bar is now, and they are leaving motivated and energized. As one rider put it: “I am leaving extremely motivated and stoked for the next chance we all get to race together.”

The season is long. The work is clear. And if the energy coming out of Puerto Rico is any indication, Donovan Racing is going to be one of the most exciting teams to follow in 2026.

Stay tuned.