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

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Trinity Racing for 2021:

Haley Batten (USA)
Christopher Blevins (USA)
Sam Culverwell (GBR)
Matthew Devins (IRL)
Thomas Gloag (GBR)
Ben Healy (IRL)
Luke Lamperti (USA)
Alex Malacarne (BRA)
Cameron Mason (GBR)
Finley Newmark (IRL)
Ollie Rees (GBR)
Tosh Teare (JAP)
Chiara Teocchi (ITA)
Ben Turner (GBR)
Max Walker (GBR)

I know it's the same bike sponsor, but wasn't expecting Haley Batten and Chris Blevins to leave Specialized Factory Team for Trinity. Good team for the XCO world cups.

The team press release singles out Healy as the main leader on the road, and also Gloag. Who are the other most promising road riders there does anyone know?

(Healy was Pidcock’s main lieutenant in 2020)
 
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Place your bets! Better or worse than Meiyin Wang or Chun Kai Feng?

There's not even a contest here. Mirza, Wang and Feng all had impressive results and multiple UCI wins on the Asian continental circuit before getting into WT - even though they are/were all pack fodder there. Madan has nothing, just a couple of DNFs in random Turkish races this year. Last year saw his career best result: finishing 51st (of 54 finishers) at the Tour of Central Anatolia - the three racers behind him were all members of the Turkish deaf national team.

I see of course why they feel the need to have a Bahraini rider on their roster - but does he deserve a place in a pro team? No. But maybe we all underestimate the scouting abilities of Sheik Khalid?

His passion and attitude during this time caught the attention of the President of the Cycling Federation, Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who identified Ahmed as a cyclist who could move up the ranks.

 
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I had heard rumors so glad they ain't true.
Just watched the press release and sadly no sign of a Nat. kit for Healy yet

presumably he figures he can use it to land good WT contracts for a few of them. Healy seems like he will obviously get to the pro ranks but a year in the shop window could greatly improve the contract he signs. They sound confident about Gloag too. I’m not as familiar with the economics of CX or MB, so I’m not sure what the aim is. Do mountain bikers mostly get paid by teams or is it all about attracting personal sponsors?
 
Well, Ben Turner won bronze in the 2017 CX junior WCs, when it was an all-British podium. I don't know if he has progressed or not, but I've heard of him anyway.

Ben Turner has been having some troubles with injuries but is coming back to shape. Although not one of the U23 riders who are given more attetnion, like Pidcock, Kamp or Vandeputte, he's one of the more consistent U23 and this year he's been having some good results in the elites (especially given that he had a late start after broking his collarbone and wrist in October).
 
The team press release singles out Healy as the main leader on the road, and also Gloag. Who are the other most promising road riders there does anyone know?

(Healy was Pidcock’s main lieutenant in 2020)
Teocchi, Batten, Malacarne and Blevins are great mtb riders that have come throught the specialized offroad teams. When Rees, Newmark, Teare and Walker were juniors in 2019, they were pretty strong in the Uk national series and featured at the front of most races. Teare won a couple of stages of top belgian races that year and road for the Lotto Soudal U23 Team this year. Looks like he's changed his licence from GB and Manx to Japanese. Maybe hoping for a ride in Tokyo. The others listed above were riders for Trinity this year. Turner looks to have a fast finish judging by some results from his time in the Beobank/Iko Enertherm team. He's also as stated above one of the cx riders. Mason will probably focus on gravel and mtb, although was reserve for the Ronde de l'Isard this year. Lamperti has previously ridden for Lux cycling, which is the same strong junior team Quinn Simmons and Brandon McNulty came through. Don't know anything about Devins.

Abby Mae Parkinson is riding for Lotto Soudal women's but it'll be interesting to see where the other CX rider Josie Nelson ends up as the other two females are more mtb focused whereas she is road focused.
 
Simon Carr (gbr) is another to come from Delko Marseille to EF Nippo. Interestingly hasn't really raced in the uk despite his licence and nationality. He's lived most of his life in France and grown up through their system, rode for the AVC Aix en Provence 1st National Division team before progressing to the pro team. Won the Villafranka Ordiziako and young riders jersey at the Volta Portugal this year.