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

Page 490 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

Too bad both Chiara Consonni and Finn Fisher-Black are already contracted for next year - and Gunnar Holmgren mostly does MTB and CX - or they could have made it a whole family affair!
They should definitely try to get Lea Lin Teutenberg, though!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Küng and Mozzato to Tudor have been confirmed as well. Avenir stage winner Noah Hobbs will step up to the WT team at EF, and French Basque Ellande Larronde is moving up to the pro ranks at Caja Rural.

Ricarda Bauernfeind is heading to Trek. Let's hope she can get her career going again after the knee injury she suffered last year.
 
Last edited:
Over at Alpecin, Maurice Ballerstedt will return from early retirement to replace Planckaert. Jonas Geens (although listed with Flanders-Baloise for 2026 on PCS) and Francesco Busatto (Intermarché-Wanty) will get on board as well, same as Lindsay de Vylder (as confirmed earlier on).

Rickaert, Vertrynge, Diller and Riesebeek all got a contract extension.

Have to come back to this, the Ballerstedt transfer has to be quite the oddity, coming back to the team you retired from a year ago.
 
Have to come back to this, the Ballerstedt transfer has to be quite the oddity, coming back to the team you retired from a year ago.
yeah, it's an interesting one, especially as he retired because he didn't want to be a leadout man anymore - and this seems to be exactly what they signed him for now.

But maybe his plans to do gravel racing in the US and looking for a real job at the side didn't go as he hoped.
 
That Lotto Intermarché merged team is about to be as bad as Lotto this season, but just with more budget and led by Intermarché CEO and performance manager.

Girmay about to leave to Israel probably, Rex is also on the way out to a big team (Visma?), and apparently others (I'm thinking about Barré who sees the opportunity to cash in after this year) are thinking about not going with the new project.

Like what even is the point of it all then.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
That Lotto Intermarché merged team is about to be as bad as Lotto this season, but just with more budget and led by Intermarché CEO and performance manager.

Girmay about to leave to Israel probably, Rex is also on the way out to a big team (Visma?), and apparently others (I'm thinking about Barré who sees the opportunity to cash in after this year) are thinking about not going with the new project.

Like what even is the point of it all then.
To make sure you don't lose the likes of De Lie and Widar because you have a bigger budget?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
To make sure you don't lose the likes of De Lie and Widar because you have a bigger budget?

According to HLN Heulot had a new namesponsor lined up but Haek chose a merger over it.

Also those guys leave anyways if you have another *** season cause they don't have help. Classis team will literally be the same as last year, oh no even worse. De Lie, then Berckmoes, then absolutely nothing unless some talents steps up. It's painful. You lose Livyns due to this merger for example. He was still waiting 2 weeks ago, he wanted to stay, but I highly doubt the team will take someone in who has not signed yet. Same with Drizners btw (not for classics but good leadout).
 
According to HLN Heulot had a new namesponsor lined up but Haek chose a merger over it.

Also those guys leave anyways if you have another *** season cause they don't have help. Classis team will literally be the same as last year, oh no even worse. De Lie, then Berckmoes, then absolutely nothing unless some talents steps up. It's painful. You lose Livyns due to this merger for example. He was still waiting 2 weeks ago, he wanted to stay, but I highly doubt the team will take someone in who has not signed yet. Same with Drizners btw (not for classics but good leadout).
Very poorly managed. Are riders able to choose different employers when a merger happens? That they don't need to fulfil their current contract.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pastronef
Very poorly managed. Are riders able to choose different employers when a merger happens? That they don't need to fulfil their current contract.
My understanding is that those at Lotto will remain obligated by their contracts, but those at Intermarché will have no right to remain, because there is no such thing as a merger in cycling. Lotto continue with a new name/sponsor, IW winds up, with a vague offer, but no promise, of trying to fit people in at Lotto if they want.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan and Bkinn
Very poorly managed. Are riders able to choose different employers when a merger happens? That they don't need to fulfil their current contract.

If the paying agent changes yes (which would be the case for one of the teams cause you can obviously only continue on 1 license and thus one paying agent).

There's apparently a meeting between Bourlart and Carrera about Girmay on wednesday. As of now nothing has been communicated towards them so they don't even know if he's actually still under contract or not.

Lotto riders know more apparently.
 
If the paying agent changes yes (which would be the case for one of the teams cause you can obviously only continue on 1 license and thus one paying agent).

There's apparently a meeting between Bourlart and Carrera about Girmay on wednesday. As of now nothing has been communicated towards them so they don't even know if he's actually still under contract or not.

Lotto riders know more apparently.
Since they might want to lose Girmay on the big contract, and keep De Lie, Widar, they'll keep Lotto as the paying agent