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

[Hell-G]

Ben Hermans (Israel-Premier Tech) and Kenny Elissonde (LIDL-Trek) to Cofidis.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1721527864753795456

View: https://twitter.com/TeamCOFIDIS/status/1721527864753795456

 

[RedheadDane]

EF has made a Small DS signing.

Carmen Small joins EF Education-Cannondale as head DS | EF Education-EasyPost

Small discusses the joys of being a DS and the excitement of working with a first-year team

efprocycling.com

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Ben Hermans (Israel-Premier Tech) and Kenny Elissonde (LIDL-Trek) to Cofidis.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1721527864753795456

View: https://twitter.com/TeamCOFIDIS/status/1721527864753795456

One of the most criminally underrated riders of the past decade and one of the most criminally smallest riders. I let you guys decide who's who

 

[RedheadDane]

One of the most criminally underrated riders of the past decade and one of the most criminally smallest riders. I let you guys decide who's who

I don't think being small is a crime! Besides, 1.69 isn't that short...

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I don't think being small is a crime! Besides, 1.69 isn't that short...

Sorry, I'm well over 2m, everything below 1m80 looks like an extra from a snowwhite movie to me.

 

[JRanton]

Luke Plapp joins Jayco on a four year deal:

Triple Australian champion Luke Plapp joins GreenEDGE Cycling on a four-year deal

www.greenedgecycling.com

 

[Colonel]

I am presuming telling you that Plapp to Jayco is a done deal is not the right time right now with the Formolo info coming out?
You know, with both having contracts and all....

@RedheadDane
This has aged well it seems

 

[RedheadDane]

@RedheadDane
This has aged well it seems

Up until today, it was just a rumour. A rumour that has now been confirmed. "Rumour" doesn't mean "absolutely not true!" it simply means "for now, we don't know."

 

[theyoungest]

EF has made a Small DS signing.

Carmen Small joins EF Education-Cannondale as head DS | EF Education-EasyPost

Small discusses the joys of being a DS and the excitement of working with a first-year team

efprocycling.com

Esra Tromp is bringing all her friends from Jumbo with her to EF. At some point it looked like the Jumbo women's team was going to fold, so many people were leaving (riders and staff). Now it seems they will still continue, but I wonder for how long. It's kind of a failed project. Their heart doesn't really seem to be in it. And maybe it's also impossible with their current budget and size to operate both a top level men's team and a women's team.

 

[yaco]

@RedheadDane
This has aged well it seems

You forgot to inform Redhead Dame that Plapp was a Gerry Ryan signing. My understanding is that Gerry even offered Plapp advice on buying land in country Victoria not far from his Mitchelton Estate.

Anyway, Plapp will be leader at the Aussie Nationals, TDU, one of Saudi/UAE and then Coppa Bartoli - Rest of program to be decided.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Redhead Dame

Wow, didn't know she was a noblewoman. Would explain why she has so much time on her hands for cycling/this forum.

 

[RedheadDane]

Wow, didn't know she was a noblewoman. Would explain why she has so much time on her hands for cycling/this forum.

Naah, I'm just working part time because I'm sort of disabled.

But this isn't about my wonky brain!

HPH doubles up on Pikuliks next year:

Wiktoria Pikulik joins sister on Human Powered Health roster

Polish duo make for powerful tandem for team’s leadout and sprint.

humanpoweredhealthcycling.com

 

[Mayomaniac]

You forgot to inform Redhead Dame that Plapp was a Gerry Ryan signing. My understanding is that Gerry even offered Plapp advice on buying land in country Victoria not far from his Mitchelton Estate.

Anyway, Plapp will be leader at the Aussie Nationals, TDU, one of Saudi/UAE and then Coppa Bartoli - Rest of program to be decided.

With TDU and the NC being a big goal at the start it does make sense to have an intensive block of racing right then before a longer break.
Maybe TdS, Olympics and then the Vuelta (after a prep race) as the main races afterwards.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Renshaw becomes a DS at Astana. Has the Team really become a retirement Home for all of Cav's Buddies?

 

[Peter von]

Renshaw becomes a DS at Astana. Has the Team really become a retirement Home for all of Cav's Buddies?

At least for next year

I will say if you are going all in for Cav to win a few sprints including one at the Tour, you don't try to reinvent the wheel, like you might have done if you were building up around a 25-year old super sprinter.

 

[Berniece]

Patrick Lefevere said during the Flandrien awards that Soudal-Quickstep got a new rider, but didn't want to disclose the name yet because the rider might not have said this to his current team. His contract was over with his current team anyway now in 2023, but I guess they were also discussing a new one.

So basically a rider whose contract was ending in 2023, and doesn't have a new team yet is going to SQS. Someone in this list maybe?

Which riders are without a contract for 2026?

Top riders that don't have a contract for 2026 are Michael Matthews, Nairo Quintana and Arnaud Démare.

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Iker Bonillo has finally been confirmed at Lampre Despite having a Basque first name, he's from Valencia, like the Joan Bou Company, but hopefully he'll become a valuable asset anyway.

 

[JosephD]

Patrick Lefevere said during the Flandrien awards that Soudal-Quickstep got a new rider, but didn't want to disclose the name yet because the rider might not have said this to his current team. His contract was over with his current team anyway now in 2023, but I guess they were also discussing a new one.

So basically a rider whose contract was ending in 2023, and doesn't have a new team yet is going to SQS. Someone in this list maybe?

Which riders are without a contract for 2026?

Top riders that don't have a contract for 2026 are Michael Matthews, Nairo Quintana and Arnaud Démare.

www.procyclingstats.com

Per PCS, they have 24 under contract for 2024. Knox is still without an official deal, that makes 25. Paul Magnier from Trinity should also be going there, that's 26. I think? Unsure who that 27th rider could be, I'm surprised it hasn't leaked to the Belgian press yet, PL even when he tries to be tight lipped often gives away his transfer secrets!

 

[search]

Iker Bonillo has finally been confirmed at Cofidis. Despite having a Basque first name, he's from Valencia, like the Joan Bou Company, but hopefully he'll become a valuable asset anyway.

I guess this is what you meant to say, but his new team is actually Euskaltel

Inicio | Fundación Euskadi - Fundación Euskadi

www.fundacioneuskadi.eus

 

[RedheadDane]

I guess this is what you meant to say, but his new team is actually Euskaltel

Inicio | Fundación Euskadi - Fundación Euskadi

www.fundacioneuskadi.eus

I was a little confused by the claim that he was heading to Cofidis, considering that team is already full for next year.
"Cofidis", "Euskaltel", those two words are easy to mix up.

 

[search]

I was a little confused by the claim that he was heading to Cofidis, considering that team is already full for next year.
"Cofidis", "Euskaltel", those two words are easy to mix up.

Luis Angel Maté is part of the same announcement, and the last time I saw him, he was wearing a Cofidis jersey.

 

[search]

The Belgian CT team Materiel-Velo now has a French sponsor, "Philippe Wagner-Bazin", and aims to step up to PT level in 2025.

As this obviously needs some French riders, they a.o. have signed both Barbier brothers, Alexis Guerin and Alan Boileau (ex B&B) - plus, for the big name: Stefano Museeuw.

Philippe Wagner-Bazin, nuovo progetto franco-belga per una Continental: obiettivo licenza Professional nel 2025

Il marchio francese Philippe Wagner da tempo gravita intorno al mondo del ciclismo. L'azienda alimentare transalpina stava già sostenendo una squadra dilettan

cyclingpro.net

 

[SafeBet]

During an interview with an Italian podcast, Ivan Basso has confirmed his interest in signing Matteo Fabbro.
Not a done deal yet but I think it's happening. That would make the Polti roster for 2024 complete.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Renshaw becomes a DS at Astana. Has the Team really become a retirement Home for all of Cav's Buddies?

How many attempts at teams getting an old band back together have we seen now? Dimension Data already tried being an HTC reunion before, we don't need another one.

 

[Mayomaniac]

How many attempts at teams getting an old band back together have we seen now? Dimension Data already tried being an HTC reunion before, we don't need another one.

Tbf, it actually kinda worked (at least for the first season), but over the years it turned the team more and more into an Anglo retirement home.