Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Marc Madiot calls for team budget caps as ‘Big Four’ dominate the WorldTour

Jumbo-Visma, UAE Team Emirates, Soudal-QuickStep and Alpecin-Deceuninck have won 73% of WorldTour races in 2023

www.cyclingnews.com

What do you think, is Madiot right?

He mentions that the „Big Four“ (?!) of UAE, Soudal-QS, Jumbo and Alpecin-Deceuninck won 73% of WT races in 2023!…

IMHO, Madiot‘s view does not make much sense: everyone knows that Soudal-QS, Jumbo-Visma and Alpecin-D have rather small budgets (considering WT teams).

The WT teams with the biggest budgets might be Ineos, UAE and Bahrain. Madiot better called these three the „Big three“. And Ineos and Bahrain haven’t won yet, WT of 2023.

So, Madiot better be happy about his successful U23 development team, and the way his youngsters in the WT team ride, and better stopped talking in a confusing way, with wrong facts about budget sizes…

Edit: I mean, come on, Mr. Madiot…: Alpecin is main sponsor, and sells hair shampoos. Every little child now knows that such a company is just not able to offer Roodhooft‘s team an enormous budget. They just don‘t have the money. The key for this impressive team is the knowledge and patience of the brothers Roodhooft, and the strength of the rider Mathieu van der Poel. And he is riding for Alpecin-D, not for Groupama. Certainly every team would want that he rides for them…

 

[Netserk]

Typical anti-competitive behaviour by the French.

 

[theyoungest]

Typical anti-competitive behaviour by the French.

The next step, after the completely useless Mouvement Pour une Cyclisme Crédible. The ultimate goal, of course, is Une Cyclisme Sans Équipes Étrangères.

 

[Offline]

Jumbo is not a small budget team lol

 

[Ricco']

Does Alpecin even have a bigger budget than Groupama?

 

[OlavEH]

I think all top rider at some point had got an option to join UAE.

I wonder if any top riders who are already there will leave them? Hope that Hirschi finds a new team before next season.

 

[theyoungest]

Jumbo is not a small budget team lol

They're not in the same league as Ineos or UAE. Hence a budget cap would affect them comparatively less, which is probably not what Madiot is aiming for

 

[staubsauger]

Tinkov called Madiot a communist back in the day!

 

[Offline]

I wonder if any top riders who are already there will leave them? Hope that Hirschi finds a new team before next season.

Hirschi apparently extended last year. So should have contract in 24.
His time at UAE has been spoiled because of injuries. Don't think it would have been different at other teams.

 

[staubsauger]

Hirschi apparently extended last year. So should have contract in 24.
His time at UAE has been spoiled because of injuries. Don't think it would have been different at other teams.

Yeah as much as he maybe overperformed at Sunweb in 2020 ever since Hirschi always has had misfortunes, crashes, injuries and illnesses.

Remember last year when he won Grand Prix Argau and looked sharp to contest the Tour of Switzerland? Caught Covid-19, had to withdraw in Switzerland and raced the Tour de France as a fill-in with no shape at all.

His leadership status at UAE has disappeared though. If it ever was there. Although Hirschi might be in shape right on time for Romandie & Switzerland finally, which might be enough for him.

 

[OlavEH]

Hirschi apparently extended last year. So should have contract in 24.
His time at UAE has been spoiled because of injuries. Don't think it would have been different at other teams.

Too bad. Still hope he changes eventually. It's too many riders in UAE and Ineos that should have an opportunity to be more than just domestiques in most races.

 

[RedheadDane]

The Great Escape (from Zaaf) continues:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1647164458639429632

 

[Monte Serra]

Matteo Jorgenson linked to either EF or Jumbo, according to Ciro:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1647232683003576321

View: https://twitter.com/cirogazzetta/status/1647232683003576321

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Matteo Jorgenson linked to either EF or Jumbo, according to Ciro:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1647232683003576321

View: https://twitter.com/cirogazzetta/status/1647232683003576321

Jumbo would not be good for him.

 

[tobydawq]

Jumbo would not be good for him.

Right, they never get anything out of their riders.

 

[Salvarani]

Jumbo would not be good for him.

Financially it would.

It is not like many riders go there and get worse either... that is only reserved for older Dutch riders apparently.

 

[Bolder]

Jumbo would not be good for him.

Hard to say. He's younger than all of JV's top classics riders, who I think will all be around 30 or slightly older by next year. He could be hitting his prime just as Wout, Laporte, van Baarle, benoot top out or start to decline.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I guess it's giving up a bit of freedom in the short term where he would be lost in the shuffle which is why it might not seem the most appealing move immediately, but the trade off for that would be significant potential long term gain as the current Jumbo core age out.

 

[search]

Although he did well this year, I also wouldn't think it's totally clear that he should mainly aim for the cobbled classics in the future. For the Ardennes, for example, Jumbo is less well equipped, and they could suit him as well (same as medium-mountain stage races, but for those they have Roglic)

 

[AlfaLum]

I think there might be enough space for Jorgenson left at Jumbo for the moment. He is a super versatile rider so he could basically be a (co-) captain in any race where van Aert, Vingegaard and Roglic are not at the start. And with Roglic getting older even that “problem” might be declining.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Søren Wærenskjold has signed a new contract with Uno-X until the end of 2026 season, confirmed by Norwegian TV2 and Team boss Haugland on Twitter.

Really funny as Norwegian Eurosport yesterday had a big article about all big teams that wanted him (UAE, QuickStep, Ineos, Bora and Bahrain mentioned) and how these teams puts pressure on Uno-X and that Uno-X would have to go deep with money to keep him “if it’s even possible”.
24 hours later and he’s signed on 3 new years…

 

[Landeirovic]

Molano pens new 3-year deal to stay at UAE Team Emirates - UAE team Emirates

The first UAE World Tour cycling team

www.uaeteamemirates.com

Molano renew contract in Uae 2026

 

[staubsauger]

Søren Wærenskjold has signed a new contract with Uno-X until the end of 2026 season, confirmed by Norwegian TV2 and Team boss Haugland on Twitter.

Really funny as Norwegian Eurosport yesterday had a big article about all big teams that wanted him (UAE, QuickStep, Ineos, Bora and Bahrain mentioned) and how these teams puts pressure on Uno-X and that Uno-X would have to go deep with money to keep him “if it’s even possible”.
24 hours later and he’s signed on 3 new years…

Looking at Hoelgaard a contract extension at UnoX probably is the best decision Waerenskjold could take!

If his endurance improves slightly he's gonna get chances with long-range moves in the classics.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Busatto is turning pro with Intermarche next season.

 

[Offline]

Molano pens new 3-year deal to stay at UAE Team Emirates - UAE team Emirates

The first UAE World Tour cycling team

www.uaeteamemirates.com

Molano renew contract in Uae 2026

Been a good year for him so far.. But 3 years is maybe little overkill