GHOST Factory Racing Team: An Era comes to an end
The GHOST Factory Racing Team (GFRT) was officially founded in 2011 by GHOST Bikes. The goal has always been clear: combine elite performance with genuine authenticity. The ingredients for something like this: Teamwork, clean sport, dedication and a whole lot of passion.
Over the years, this approach has shaped not only the riders’ careers but also the evolution of our racing bikes, which were constantly refined through direct athlete feedback. This journey will now come to end due to internal focus changes and redirection of the brand. But let’s go down memory lane and relive all those fantastic years of the GHOST Factory Racing Team.
GROWING INTO A GLOBAL CONTENDER
From the start, the team stood out for its international character and its strong emphasis on long-term athlete development. Early seasons were marked by steady progress and a rising presence in UCI Mountain Bike World Cups. As the team matured, so did its ambitions: by the late 2010s, the GFRT had firmly established itself among the top programs in women’s cross-country racing.
THE ELITE
ANNE TERPSTRA
A strong breakthrough came with the arrival of Dutch Rider Anne Terpstra, who joined the team in 2016. Anne quickly became one of the most influential figures in the squad’s history. With her technically clean riding style and tactical intelligence, she achieved big milestones. Her historic victory in Andorra 2019, where she became the first Dutch woman ever to win a World Cup XCO race marked a turning point. Annes consistency, combined with multiple European Championships, Dutch National Championships and a World Championship silver medal in 2021, established her as one of the strongest cross-country athletes of her generation and made her a central pillar of the team.
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NICOLE KOLLER
Nicole Koller has been with GFRT for a few years already. By 2025, she ranks among the top riders globally, with a Top-10 World Ranking. Her track record is impressive: multiple national titles, a World Cup Victory, and a consistent string of top results throughout her career. In recent seasons she has shown outstanding consistency, even when not always on the podium, Nicole often fights among the leading group, demonstrating tactical strength and endurance.
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CAROLINE BOHÉ
Caroline Bohé represents another important piece of Ghost’s rider lineup. She brings energy and dedication, often pushing hard through difficult races. In past seasons she has secured wins and podiums in national contests, showing that it is all about consistency and staying in the game. Even in races where results weren’t on the podium, Caro has often shown evident improvement and perseverance.
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THE U23-SQUAD
FINJA LIPP
Finja is one of the younger talents of GFRT, competing in U23 races with a clear ambition to grow and give it her best. The past season was a tough one, since sickness knocked her out for several weeks. After recovery she came back strong, eager to make the best of the remaining season.
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SARA CORTINOVIS
Sara is a promising young rider who joined the GFRT last season. She returned to the podium several times during the season, showing progress and potential. Sara embodies the strategy of balancing top-level competition with investment in up-and-coming athletes.
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POWERFUL ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS
World Cup Team Title 2021
The team’s greatest collective achievement arrived in 2021, when GFRT won the overall UCI World Cup Ranking. This title reflected more than individual brilliance; it highlighted the depth, balance, and harmony within the squad. Every rider contributed valuable points over the season, reinforcing the team’s identity as a tight unit capable of delivering world-class performances throughout the whole world cup season. For GHOST, it was a milestone that validated their long-term approach to team building and athlete development.
Cape Epic 2024: victory all day every day
One of the most stunning chapters in the teams’s history unfolded in 2024, when Nicole Koller and Anne Terpstra truly tackled the legendary Absa Cape Epic. Over 8 brutal and demanding stages in South African Weather, they delivered a performance that will be remembered for years: winning every single stage of the race. Their flawless sweep, from opening prologue to the final stage in Stellenbosch, showcased a fusion of tactical intelligence, technical mastery and unstoppable endurance. With da commanding overall lead of more than 8 minutes, they marked their place in mountain biking history and delivered one of the most dominant performances the event has ever seen.
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THANK YOU FOR 16 YEARS!
By 2025, GFRT featured a diverse, international roster including riders from Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The mixture of experienced elite riders like Koller and Terpstra with young upcoming talents makes the team very versatile and stable. We always wanted to connect competitiveness with sustainable development.
More than a decade since its founding the era of GHOST Factory Racing is approaching a turning point. After years of shaping the landscape of elite cross-country racing, GHOST is preparing for a strategic shift: the company will gradually move its focus away from the World Cup cross-country circuit and toward the fast growing world of freeriding.
This change is more than a simple restructuring; it represents a recalibration of identity. During the past years we have developed our new freerider POACHA – a bike to push boundaries, thrive on big features and support athletes whose style leans toward creativity, progression and gravity driven performance. With this new direction, we aim to be a serious competitor in the freeride scene, investing in events and offering riders a platform for growth.
While the cross-country team’s legacy remains untouchable, the titles, the Cup success, and the global community built around it: GHOST’s next chapter will unfold on steeper lines, bigger jumps, and more expressive terrain. It’s a transformation rooted in opportunity, ambition, and the belief that freeriding offers new ways for athletes to grow and for the brand to innovate.
After 16 unforgettable years, the era of GHOST Factory Racing comes to a close. We want to say a BIG THANK YOU to every athlete, for putting the sweat, work and consistency. The mechanics for making sure the bikes run smoothely, partners, sponsors, fans and supporters who shaped this joruney. You carried the spirit of this team, pushed limits and turned moments into memories. GFRT may be ending, but its legacy rides on!