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

[Roku]

Lots of transfers today, with Ag2r confirming Scotson, Staune Mittet, Gudmerstad and the surprise of Bisseger.

Baudin, Warbasse, Hanninen are out. Curious about Baudin since Warbasse and Jaakko look bound for retirement. Sad for Hanninen since he looked extremely promising on 2019.

Lars Craps joins Lotto Dstny.

DSM extends with Markl, Combaud and Sean Flynn.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Dascalu is obvs out. Anton Cooper probably too. Jolanda Neff said to be leaving. they'll probably have Riley Amos and Bjorn Riley step up from the U23 to the elite mtb team.
From what I've heard is Trek is lowering the budget.

Yeah, that was mentioned elsewhere. I'm not sure Munro is going to make it as a top rider, but she's US, so may get kept on.
And a rumour on VitalMTB reckons Harnden might be off the Enduro team - they're only interested in DH.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Are EF going out of business or something?

 

[Samamba]

Are EF going out of business or something?

Why does everyone keep freaking out about them not announcing anything when they are always weird announcing things.

Walker, Asgreen, Baudin, Currie, Hobbs, ... have all signed there supposedly so.

 

[Salvarani]

Are EF going out of business or something?

Vaughters like the mystic.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Its a bit like the 23.45 last chance reduced to clear in a supermarket.
JV can then both hoover up the riders without a contract and last minute contract renewals where riders have to just accept what's on offer.

 

[Anderis]

Why does everyone keep freaking out about them not announcing anything when they are always weird announcing things.

Last time they were not announcing new signings at all (2017) it turned out that they didn't have a sponsor secured for 2018.

 

[ManicJack]

they'll probably have Riley Amos and Bjorn Riley step up from the U23 to the elite mtb team.

No

 

[pastronef]

Yeah, that was mentioned elsewhere. I'm not sure Munro is going to make it as a top rider, but she's US, so may get kept on.
And a rumour on VitalMTB reckons Harnden might be off the Enduro team - they're only interested in DH.

I'm completely in the dark about Enduro, I don't follow it, and sometimes I watch DH but not enough to know teams/riders

 

[pastronef]

No

he'll change brand, or change sport, or become a pop singer, painter, influencer, tattoo artist ?

 

[ManicJack]

he'll change brand, or change sport, or become a pop singer, painter, influencer, tattoo artist ?

Different team. Not my place to say with whom even if I knew. 😉

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Different team. Not my place to say with whom even if I knew. 😉

What is it with all the secrecy in MTB? I've never understood it - look at this thread for road rumours, but MTB is the complete opposite. Nobody, not even the journalists say a thing - just the odd hint that there will be a shake up.
And not only that, quite often transfers are only announced come New Year. It's bizarre, and out of date.

 

[pastronef]

What is it with all the secrecy in MTB? I've never understood it - look at this thread for road rumours, but MTB is the complete opposite. Nobody, not even the journalists say a thing - just the odd hint that there will be a shake up.
And not only that, quite often transfers are only announced come New Year. It's bizarre, and out of date.

XCO mtb hasn't got many fans. just check the Enduro/Downhill forums on Pinkbike or VitalMTB and the transfer rumors are flying. ppl following XCO mtb are a small pocket, so the news do not splash around from fan to fan as for the trendier DH/Enduro with many more fans and followers and forums members

 

[Black Betsy]

I have come here to chew some bubblegum and read 'bout Princess Demi's transfer and I'm all out of bubblegum...

 

[RedheadDane]

I have come here to chew some bubblegum and read 'bout Princess Demi's transfer and I'm all out of bubblegum...

We can't really talk about her transfer if there has been no news about her transfer.
So, we talk about transfers there have been news about.

 

[awavey]

Like Mikayla Harvey joins SDWorx

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841757091905601932

View: https://x.com/teamsdworx/status/1841757091905601932


And whilst I appreciate a 2 year deal is fairly common, they aren't half signing alot of riders and sponsor deals that all end in 2026.

 

[Samamba]

Harm Vanhoucke next in line to leave Lotto cause there's no money to extend him. Q36.5 will probably be his next destination.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Movistar (Spain) has signed great breakaway sprinter Natnael testfastion (Eritrea) , a 2 year contract

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841765137138565439

View: https://x.com/Movistar_Team/status/1841765137138565439?t=QkffJ1KwvcEjnpTlpkSjTQ&s=19

 

[Mayomaniac]

Movistar (Spain) has signed great breakaway sprinter Natnael testfastion (Eritrea) , a 2 year contract

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841765137138565439

View: https://x.com/Movistar_Team/status/1841765137138565439?t=QkffJ1KwvcEjnpTlpkSjTQ&s=19

I can see him doing well in the smaller Spanish races. Plus he speaks Italian (like multiple teammates and some DSs on the team), so he should pick up enough Spanish to communicate during the races rather easy.

 

[yaco]

It is obvious that SD Worx is struggling to attract talented riders. I suspect it is the culture, as opposed to salary constraints.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It is obvious that SD Worx is struggling to attract talented riders. I suspect it is the culture, as opposed to salary constraints.

I'm not sure they would be interested in Harvey if they had enough money left to attract bigger names. If they had signed both her and NFB when Bigla went bust it would have different matter, but I doubt she was high on their list nowadays. I'll also maintain that Lotte Claes would have been a better choice.

 

[yaco]

I'm not sure they would be interested in Harvey if they had enough money left to attract bigger names. If they had signed both her and NFB when Bigla went bust it would have different matter, but I doubt she was high on their list nowadays. I'll also maintain that Lotte Claes would have been a better choice.

The red flag was when the promising Mauritian rider declined to join SD Worx.

 

[JR1012]

Like Mikayla Harvey joins SDWorx

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841757091905601932

View: https://x.com/teamsdworx/status/1841757091905601932


And whilst I appreciate a 2 year deal is fairly common, they aren't half signing alot of riders and sponsor deals that all end in 2026.

I wonder if she can reach at SD Worx her potential that she showed in 2020 with 5th place at the Giro and 7th at Fleche Wallonne. If so, will be a great support for Kopecky and AvB.

​

 

[Black Betsy]

I can see him doing well in the smaller Spanish races. Plus he speaks Italian (like multiple teammates and some DSs on the team), so he should pick up enough Spanish to communicate during the races rather easy.

He can do some alleycat races with Kudus (joined Burgos already)

 

[Berniece]

Harm Vanhoucke next in line to leave Lotto cause there's no money to extend him. Q36.5 will probably be his next destination.

Must be annoying for them to lose a rider for such a reason, but Vanhoucke has never really performed compared to his potential, so maybe not that much of a loss for them.