Teams & Riders EF Pro Cycling

[Anderis]

That is an eye popping list.
I had to go investigate 2021 to remind myself.

Yeah, it's pretty surprising. I've remembered 2021 as a kinda bad year for EF but it was their 2nd best year ever in terms of WT wins! But again, wins alone never tell the whole story.

 

[Potomac]

If the merger between QS and JV goes through as rumoured, I will be very disappointed if EF doesn't pick up someone decent to bolster their sprinting/northern classics squad. But I actually expect that they won't.

Maybe the powers at EF had heard rumors for a while, and that's why they have so many contracts not renewed, leaving space to sign riders involved in the merger.

 

[Anderis]

Maybe the powers at EF had heard rumors for a while, and that's why they have so many contracts not renewed, leaving space to sign riders involved in the merger.

That's the ideal scenario but in the past they rarely signed any significant riders from the teams that were folding that year so I believe it when I see it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Maybe the powers at EF had heard rumors for a while, and that's why they have so many contracts not renewed, leaving space to sign riders involved in the merger.

Or maybe they're hoping a sponsor or two will be up for grabs after the merger.

 

[Anderis]

Maybe the powers at EF had heard rumors for a while, and that's why they have so many contracts not renewed, leaving space to sign riders involved in the merger.

Markel Beloki confirmed.

Do you really sign 6 neo-pros in one year if you're waiting to pick up some good riders from a folding team?

 

[Potomac]

Markel Beloki confirmed.

Do you really sign 6 neo-pros in one year if you're waiting to pick up some good riders from a folding team?

IDK
What is the normal number of neo pros to sign in one year?

 

[Anderis]

IDK
What is the normal number of neo pros to sign in one year?

I can't tell in general but I can make a quick analysis about EF from PCS.
2023: 0 new neo-pros signed
2022: 3
2021: 2
2020: 2
2019: 2
2018: 4
2017: 0
If I haven't got anything wrong.

So the typical number seems to be 2.

 

[nedhill]

Or maybe they're hoping a sponsor or two will be up for grabs after the merger.

It looks like they only have 4 spots left with some riders they will likely resign. I suspect that if an opportunity fell into their lap, they might be able to convince one of the new signings to start on the development team and then switch to a stagiaire, or upgrade as Valgren did this year.

 

[Anderis]

It looks like they only have 4 spots left

PCS have them at 25 riders for 2024, are they missing someone?

 

[ManicJack]

I suspect that if an opportunity fell into their lap, they might be able to convince one of the new signings to start on the development team and then switch to a stagiaire, or upgrade as Valgren did this year.

Riddle me that one batman

 

[Anderis]

Looking at recent races, it looks like Vaughters' trust in Archie Ryan may pay off big time.

 

[Squire]

Looking at recent races, it looks like Vaughters' trust in Archie Ryan may pay off big time.

Yeah, if his knees can last a full season, he could be a great signing. They have several exciting riders for next year.

 

[nedhill]

PCS have them at 25 riders for 2024, are they missing someone?

Sean Quinn who is getting a 3-year extension c/o Daniel B.

 

[Anderis]

If Quick Step is folding, my dream scenario would be for EF to pick up Asgreen and Luke Lamperti. As I said earlier, I want at least one rider who can add strength to the cobbled team and one guy who can sprint.

However, I wouldn't say no to riders like Van Wilder, Merlier, C. Pederen, Lampaert, Lecerf, Gelders, Huby, Vangheluwe, hell even Jordi Warlop, because I'm desperate for signing someone with half-decent sprint . Evenepoel is not realistic and Alaphilippe will ask for too much money.

I hope EF is not missing on the opportunity to sign some of these guys because Vaughters already decided to sign a bunch of neo-pros and re-sign a bunch of mediocre riders. A team like EF should always have some spots open until late in the season for situations like these.

EDIT: Senechal would also be a nice signing. Didn't include him because PCS doesn't have him as contracted fo Quick Step for 2024 but he doesn't seem to be confirmed anywhere else.

 

[Anderis]

EDIT: Senechal would also be a nice signing. Didn't include him because PCS doesn't have him as contracted fo Quick Step for 2024 but he doesn't seem to be confirmed anywhere else.

That didn't age well, already confirmed for Arkea.

 

[Potomac]

Here's the PCS EF start list for il lombardia

• 71CARAPAZ Richard
• 72CAICEDO Jonatha?n Klever
• 73CHAVES Esteban
• 74HEALY Ben
• 75HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
• 76PICCOLO Andrea
• 77URÁN Rigoberto

I love Inner Ring's blog but here is what he says about the team...

"EF Education-Easypost have a very strong team, every rider looks capable of winning and some of them have already."

That seems a bit hyberbolic to me.

Chaves has won in the past.
Uran has podiumed 3 times.

Carapaz and Healey...maybe.

Caicedo?
Honore
Piccolo?

I don't see those last three in the hunt for top 10. Am I wrong?

 

[Anderis]

every rider looks capable of winning

Every rider looks capable of winning, but not necessarily Il Lombardia. I think only Carapaz can realistically win Il Lombardia, maybe Healy is a very loong shot but I don't quite believe Lombardia is the race that plays into his strenghts as well as some of the other races on the calendar. Uran and Chaves... it's not 2016 anymore.

It looks like Quick Step is not folding, so I guess the remaining 4 spots on the team for 2024 will be contract extensions. If you asked me, I would say that J. Van den Berg, Caicedo, Doull and Shaw seem most logical choices but I could also see Amador being kept for one more year. Kudus and Keukeleire also seem like riders that should've either been kept or we would've heard about them either changing teams or retiring (Keukeleire) by now.

I'm a bit p****d off that the team leaned so heavily on recruiting climbing talent this transfer window while neglecting prospects for more flatter races. Every team has areas which they focus on some more than others but EF will now have more climbing prospects than they will know what to do with while often showing up to flatter races without even half a guy who can contest any kind of a big group sprint. It'll be kinda frustrating to watch as a fan, again.

 

[Potomac]

Rui Costa to EF?

 

[RedheadDane]

Rui Costa to EF?

Maybe... we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Anderis]

Rui Costa to EF?

If that's true, then maybe Vaughters indeed was holding some salary budget in reserve in case Quick-Step riders were free to find a new team. As it did not happen, the reserve was spent on Rui Costa. It would make sense because Vaughters rarely hires near retirement riders with big names otherwise.

 

[Sciatic]

Rui Costa joins EF Education-EasyPost | EF Education-EasyPost

The Portuguese rider is as motivated as ever to race for victories

efprocycling.com

 

[Potomac]

Per PCS the list of EF riders not signed with anyone for 2024

Nr.	Rider	Current team	Age	Points this season	Career points
1	AMADOR Andrey	EF Education-EasyPost	37	90	2868
2	KUDUS Merhawi	EF Education-EasyPost	29	87	2195
3	EIKING Odd Christian	EF Education-EasyPost	28	149	2019
4	DOULL Owain	EF Education-EasyPost	30	214	1379
5	WIŚNIOWSKI Łukasz	EF Education-EasyPost	31	46	954
6	CAICEDO Jonathan Klever	EF Education-EasyPost	30	137	852
7	SHAW James	EF Education-EasyPost	27	171	698
8	SCULLY Tom	EF Education-EasyPost	33	51	558
9	VAN DEN BERG Julius	EF Education-EasyPost	26	80	474
10	QUINN Sean	EF Education-EasyPost	23	155	369
11	CAMARGO Diego Andrés	EF Education-EasyPost	25	100	194

I know I'm biased in favor of American riders because I'm asking myself how can they not sign Sean Quinn? But his stats are not very good this season despite 68 race days.

 

[Bolder]

If that's true, then maybe Vaughters indeed was holding some salary budget in reserve in case Quick-Step riders were free to find a new team. As it did not happen, the reserve was spent on Rui Costa. It would make sense because Vaughters rarely hires near retirement riders with big names otherwise.

Costa had a bit of a resurgence this year and I was surprised that Intermarché didn't keep him. But I think your analysis is correct regarding QS.

 

[The GCW]

EF Education-EasyPost sign Rui Costa to win and mentor young riders

37-year-old Portuguese rider to work with US team's new generation of young talent in 2024

www.cyclingnews.com

"The US-registered WorldTour team has also signed 18-year-old Markel Beloki, 19-year-old Lukas Nerurkar and Jack Rootkin-Gray of Britain, Ireland’s Darren Rafferty and Archie Ryan, and Jardi Christiaan van der Lee from the Netherlands."

 

[Wyndbrook]

Per PCS the list of EF riders not signed with anyone for 2024

Nr.	Rider	Current team	Age	Points this season	Career points
1	AMADOR Andrey	EF Education-EasyPost	37	90	2868
2	KUDUS Merhawi	EF Education-EasyPost	29	87	2195
3	EIKING Odd Christian	EF Education-EasyPost	28	149	2019
4	DOULL Owain	EF Education-EasyPost	30	214	1379
5	WIŚNIOWSKI Łukasz	EF Education-EasyPost	31	46	954
6	CAICEDO Jonathan Klever	EF Education-EasyPost	30	137	852
7	SHAW James	EF Education-EasyPost	27	171	698
8	SCULLY Tom	EF Education-EasyPost	33	51	558
9	VAN DEN BERG Julius	EF Education-EasyPost	26	80	474
10	QUINN Sean	EF Education-EasyPost	23	155	369
11	CAMARGO Diego Andrés	EF Education-EasyPost	25	100	194

I know I'm biased in favor of American riders because I'm asking myself how can they not sign Sean Quinn? But his stats are not very good this season despite 68 race days.

Surprised Shaw has not been offered a contract for next year yet. Having listened to Vaughters, during Eurosport tour coverage, praise himself for recognising the talent of Shaw and signing him, and then saying what a good season he was having.
Though perhaps I should not be surprised.