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

[Samu Cuenca]

Apart from the name, this team doesn't really have anything to do with the old one, does it?

It's also controlled by the Fundación Euskadi like the old one was, but it's of course not the same people who are in charge nowadays. Landa had replaced the long-serving president of the foundation, Miguel Madariaga, but had to step down from the position, when the UCI found it problematic that the new team was competing in the same races as him.

 

[StryderHells]

Okay so Ewan just dropped out of the Tour, the team didn’t support him today (correct choice), does he stay or will he move to another team? I think it’s best for both if he moves to a new team.

 

[xo 1]

Okay so Ewan just dropped out of the Tour, the team didn’t support him today (correct choice), does he stay or will he move to another team? I think it’s best for both if he moves to a new team.

A fresh start makes sense for Caleb and I'm sure Lotto-Dstny would love to be free of the contract, but I suspect (i) Caleb would take a large financial loss in letting go his contract, and (ii) relatedly, I suspect his market would be limited. Not many teams looking for a results-light sprinter.

That said, I am a fan and think he is a talented rider. But I wonder if he needs to shift his focus away from sprinting to one-day races. Seems like a good guy, but as others have remarked, he hesitates to mix it up since his crash.

 

[yaco]

I suspect he will end up at one of the French Teams or at Israel.

 

[Samamba]

Okay so Ewan just dropped out of the Tour, the team didn’t support him today (correct choice), does he stay or will he move to another team? I think it’s best for both if he moves to a new team.

That would mean Ewan letting go of his >1.5M/year dollar contract while he's really fond of his supercars.

Really doubt that is happening as not a single team with any form of brain will offer him something remotely close to that.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

That would mean Ewan letting go of his >1.5M/year dollar contract while he's really fond of his supercars.

Really doubt that is happening as not a single team with any form of brain will offer him something remotely close to that.

But then again, Israel still exists.

 

[Red Rick]

Lotto extended Ewan on 1.5M?

Damn they should have been relegated

 

[Samamba]

Lotto extended Ewan on 1.5M?

Damn they should have been relegated

Ewan won them 10 GT stages and got 2nd in MSR in 2.5 years time. Lotto has made a lot of obvious mistakes like giving Gilbert and Degenbold lots of money, but giving Ewan a fat contract after that was a pretty logical thing to do. No one could predict he would go downhill that fast after what he had shown in his first years at Lotto.

 

[Samamba]

But then again, Israel still exists.

They seem to have finally seen the light.

 

[xo 1]

That would mean Ewan letting go of his >1.5M/year dollar contract while he's really fond of his supercars.

Really doubt that is happening as not a single team with any form of brain will offer him something remotely close to that.

I agree and think this was effectively proven last year. As I recall, Ewan had an option to terminate his agreement when Lotto was relegated but chose to stay on. (It may be that the termination right is standard in professional cycling contracts; I don't remember the discussion from other riders, but it was likely only a consideration for riders on larger contracts.)

 

[yaco]

That would mean Ewan letting go of his >1.5M/year dollar contract while he's really fond of his supercars.

Really doubt that is happening as not a single team with any form of brain will offer him something remotely close to that.

The new team can renegotiate his contract which may serve all parties - There will be takers because he's shown enough top end speed in 2023 - A new team must not make the mistake of allowing to build a whole team around him in races - This has been Ewan's issue of not wanting to share resources even back in the days when he was at Jayco - My prediction is that if he has a similar season in 2024 then he will retire.

 

[DNP-Old]

Arnaud De Lie: 2024 --> 2026. Behind all the Ewan smoke, Lotto is building one hell of a core. If they can get Lennert Van Eetvelt and Jarno Widar to sign long term they're set in every area. With the Ewan millions off the books in max. a year, it's time to start finding some quality help.

 

[tobydawq]

Lotto extended Ewan on 1.5M?

Damn they should have been relegated

They were relegated.

 

[Samamba]

and Jarno Widar

I don't think that rumour was true at all btw. Widar already told himself that it was BS at the time HNB reported it (he was still talking to multiple teams then) and if it was actually true it would've been official by now.

 

[DNP-Old]

AJ August, who is rumoured to have signed with INEOS for almost a year now, will likely do a year in the U23 with Axeon.

 

[Samamba]

AJ August, who is rumoured to have signed with INEOS for almost a year now, will likely do a year in the U23 with Axeon.

I still don't get this Jayco Axeon partnership... are they still going to develop riders that are known to be going to another WT team already the year after? I mean it's basically Axeons model, but that would mean Jayco helps to develop riders for other teams?

 

[Anderis]

Darren Rafferty confirmed to EF.

I think he is the first neo-pro stage racer with top u-23 results they have signed since Talansky. That's not long after signing Carapaz, who was probably their biggest signing since Hushovd and extending with Healy, who was probably the most promising prospect on the market without a contract for 2024. The rumours are that Bettiol will also extend.

It seems that they are in the best financial position they have been in a long time, or they just managed so well on the transfer market due to sheer luck. I hope their results in big stage races are better in 2024 becaue they didn't deliver in that area anywhere near as much as their squad was theoretically capable of in 2023.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Darren Rafferty confirmed to EF.

I think he is the first neo-pro stage racer with top u-23 results they have signed since Talansky. That's not long after signing Carapaz, who was probably their biggest signing since Hushovd and extending with Healy, who was probably the most promising prospect on the market without a contract for 2024. The rumours are that Bettiol will also extend.

It seems that they are in the best financial position they have been in a long time, or they just managed so well on the transfer market due to sheer luck. I hope their results in big stage races are better in 2024 becaue they didn't deliver in that area anywhere near as much as their squad was theoretically capable of in 2023.

interesting that Vaughters talks up their neopro intake for 2024 as a whole in the press release, saying that there are more announcements like this coming and that he thinks they have recruited the best talent. I wonder who else they have lined up.

 

[DNP-Old]

interesting that Vaughters talks up their neopro intake for 2024 as a whole in the press release, saying that there are more announcements like this coming and that he thinks they have recruited the best talent. I wonder who else they have lined up.

I've seen enough, Ashlin Barry (15) to become the youngest pro cyclist to have ever lived.

 

[Anderis]

interesting that Vaughters talks up their neopro intake for 2024 as a whole in the press release, saying that there are more announcements like this coming and that he thinks they have recruited the best talent. I wonder who else they have lined up.

I think he may be exaggerating as always, but it basically confirms they have signed more young riders nonetheless, so I'm looking forward to see who they are.

I've just read on another forum that they are apparently going to sign Archie Ryan.

 

[yaco]

I still don't get this Jayco Axeon partnership... are they still going to develop riders that are known to be going to another WT team already the year after? I mean it's basically Axeons model, but that would mean Jayco helps to develop riders for other teams?

It starts next year and then we can judge - Anyway Development team riders don't always end up in the senior team.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I think he may be exaggerating as always, but it basically confirms they have signed more young riders nonetheless, so I'm looking forward to see who they are.

I've just read on another forum that they are apparently going to sign Archie Ryan.

I’m sure that you are right that he is exaggerating, but it’s an interesting angle for him to be talking up. Also, I suppose sensible for them to pivot towards youth prospects in an period when mega budget teams are signing prospects young and established winners are very expensive.

Ryan would be another very promising climber, assuming full recovery from his injury.

 

[Anderis]

I’m sure that you are right that he is exaggerating,

I still remember how he called Jose Neves (or Jose Fernandes according to wikipedia ) the most talented Portuguese rider since Rui Costa. He himself didn't even seem to believe it, because he never gave him a pro contract.

 

[MayorOfTheBattery]

Seems that Quick Step will change a lot in 2024

Ballerini, Bagioli and Declercq won't probably get a new contract

Source: sports.fr

Landa a part of the change?

Landa on Quick-Step's radar as domestique for Evenepoel | Cycling Today Official

Landa on Quick-Step's radar as domestique for Evenepoel. Mikel Landa could be on his way to Soudal Quick-Step as team manager Patrick Lefevere had discussions with the management of the 33-year-old Spanish rider.

cycling.today

 

[RedheadDane]

Well... that's one way to announce an extension: