Oisin O’Callaghan’s life is filled with transitions at the moment. He’s joining Trek-Unbroken DH after six years with his previous team and he’s just moved outside of Dublin.

After his previous team folded, O’Callaghan needed a new home. He quickly set his sights on Trek. He was already well-acquainted with the team staff and mechanics from the World Cup circuit, and he knows his new teammates well. He raced with Lachie Stevens-McNab and Ollie Davis during their junior days. And with Matt Walker at many of the same races around the UK.

O’Callaghan has felt connected to Trek nearly his whole life. His dad runs a Trek store, and he rode a Session before his call-up to the World Cup circuit. He’s now come full circle. With a goal of winning a World Cup race again after summiting the podium in Snowshoe in 2023.

The prototype Session he’ll be racing has evolved a lot from the bike that sparked his career. When he tested it for the first time after Mont-Sainte-Anne in October — and again at team camp in California at the end of November, he once again felt a twinge of the familiar.

“The new bike is very different. The one I rode was a full 27. The new one, with it being high pivot and everything, is a little different. But to be honest, I did feel very similar characteristics straight away. I just felt at home, to be honest, which was really nice.” – Oisin O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is ready to hit the ground running with Trek-Unbroken. He sat down with the Race Shop to talk about his journey to the team and why he’s primed for a big 2026.

O’Callaghan is ready to hit the ground running with Trek-Unbroken. He sat down with the Race Shop to talk about his journey to the team and why he’s primed for a big 2026.

(The following conversation was edited for clarity and length).

How did you come to Trek?

I suppose you could say it happened last year. I was in discussions with other teams, and then things changed and I ended up staying where I was.

Then my team folded, which wasn’t ideal, especially when you’re trying to race a season and you’re not being paid. I still had good connections with Trek from talking with Andrew [Shandro] and others last year, and luckily, Trek were fast to get contracts going. For me, I just wanted to go straight to Trek.

I actually rode Trek when I was younger. I had my mind set on Trek, really. It’s honestly just the whole group of people and everything is so good. And I feel like everyone’s dedication to win is a lot higher. They’re willing to do as much as they can.

What made Trek so attractive?

The group of people was one. I obviously get on really well with Lachie, Ollie, and Matt. I grew up with Lachie and Ollie racing as juniors together. I’ve heard great things about [Trek team manager] Ryan Gaul — RG — and obviously now working with him, when I ask him something, it’s sorted straight away.

I just felt like everyone there was a good group of people. Everyone was doing their jobs. And obviously the setup was what I was looking for, bike-wise and everything, going back to something that I was familiar with in 2018-2019 was when I was on Trek.

And to be honest, the minute I hopped on the bike, it felt so comfortable.

Tell us more about your previous experience with Trek.

My dad actually owns a Trek bike shop. I was too young to race World Cups then. It was two years before I was racing World Cups. I got Trek frames through the shop, and I was racing in European and British races on a Trek.

It seems like you’re completing a circle in your career.

Yeah. It’s nice to hop back on the bike brand that got me onto the World Cup circuit. And I always liked Trek. I just really like that bike. It was the old, full Viper Red carbon Session. I just loved it.

What about the new bike? How’s it feel in comparison to that older Session?

The new bike is very different. The one I rode was a full 27. And the new one, with it being high pivot and everything, is a little different. But to be honest, I did feel very similar characteristics straight away. I just felt at home, to be honest, which was really nice.

The minute I hopped on it in Mont-Sainte-Anne after the World Cup, I was like, ‘This is a real race bike.’ You can ride through the breaking bumps, and not feel any massive feedback through the pedals. Everything was just built to go fast on a rough track the minute I hopped on, I was like, ‘Wow.’ Instantly I was like, I don’t even have to touch the brakes there. It’s smoother. And the full RockShox setup, everything about it is smoother. The suspension is just a little bit plusher. And then the frame too. It’s made to absorb the breaking bumps, which is obviously a massive, massive help.

Setup-wise, the bike is obviously really adjustable. Like, crazy adjustable. I’ve kind of already found my happy spot on the bike that I’m going to run pretty much 95 percent of the time. I kind of knew it when I tested it in MSA.

I wouldn’t say I’m massively fussy either. Once I find something that suits me and feels good, I tend to stick to that. I like to have one good base setup. You sometimes see people changing stuff all the time, and they can turn into an absolute nightmare.

I got the bike set up into the highest pivot point, middle progression and plus three mil(limeters) on the reach. I don’t know what my standard front end size is, but I know I’ve got plus-three in the reach.

You’ve won a World Cup and had podium finishes last year. How do you hope Trek can take you to the next level?

I suppose for next year, obviously, I have some big goals. It’s been two years since I was on the top of the podium, which will be the main goal. So I’d like to win a World Cup again, be on the podium at least once, outside of winning a race. And I’d love to get a World Championship medal as well. With me being fourth in the overall coming into the summer break, I would love to finish top five in the overall, too.

Trek-Unbroken DH  @trekfactoryracingdh | Oisin O’Callaghan  @oisinocallaghandh