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

[Rob5091]

Julius Johansen to UAE?! Is it April 1?
https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/cykling/dansker-taet-paa-chok-skifte/10443051

UAE Team Emirates sign Julius Johansen to complete 2025 roster - UAE team Emirates

The first UAE World Tour cycling team

www.uaeteamemirates.com

Seems like Sabgal/Anicolor is the new feeder team! 1.88 m and 77 kg according to PCS so he'll be on the front of the peloton for the first 50 km or so before Pogi attacks. Could be on for some long chats with Bjerg in the grupetto.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Axandre Van Peteghem (no, his first name is not a typo and yes he's the son of Peter) goes pro with WBX2

 

[Mayomaniac]

Seems like Sabgal/Anicolor is the new feeder team! 1.88 m and 77 kg according to PCS so he'll be on the front of the peloton for the first 50 km or so before Pogi attacks. Could be on for some long chats with Bjerg in the grupetto.

Well, Pogacar's coach worked with some of their riders before and is still coaching some riders who work in Portugal (like Nicolas German Tivani, who would deserve a PCT contract), so there's a connection.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

I wonder if Quick will take the place of Carstenson or if they will run two sprinters.

Carstensen rides for Storck-Metropol in 2025, so Quick indeed would be his replacement.

 

[hayneplane]

Seems like Sabgal/Anicolor is the new feeder team! 1.88 m and 77 kg according to PCS so he'll be on the front of the peloton for the first 50 km or so before Pogi attacks. Could be on for some long chats with Bjerg in the grupetto.

Seems a strange signing at first look but I would expect that he will effectively be the replacement for Sjoerd Bax to ride in the first 50% of race distance on the front tapping out a rhythm.

 

[laarsland]

Carstensen rides for Storck-Metropol in 2025, so Quick indeed would be his replacement.

Hope Florian Stork will also sign for Storck-Metropol.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Seems a strange signing at first look but I would expect that he will effectively be the replacement for Sjoerd Bax to ride in the first 50% of race distance on the front tapping out a rhythm.

Pogacar's coach used to work with some riders on that team and still is working with some riders from the Portugese domestic scene, Nicolas Tivani is one of them and actually rode as a stagiaire for UAE back in the day, so there is a bit of a connection between them and the local scene.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Pogacar's coach used to work with some riders on that team and still is working with some riders from the Portugese domestic scene, Nicolas Tivani is one of them and actually rode as a stagiaire for UAE back in the day, so there is a bit of a connection between them and the local scene.

Also UAE are kinda the successor to Lampre who (until Movistar's one-off trip in 2021) were the last top tier team still regularly going to the Volta, largely as the sponsor had interests over there.

 

[Roku]

Why is almost everyone so stranged about Johansen? The strange fact is he had to drop down to Portugal for this season. He is a quality rider whose place is the World Tour.

A big powerhorse, with a great speed for a KM - I think his true place is be second or third to last in a sprint train, he did a wonderful job in the Gerben Thijssen sprint train in 2023 - Julius is a capable TTer, above average in echelons and a perfect support rider in northern classics, where he can help navigate a team until the last hour / hour and half of the race.

Sure he is no prolific winner or world beater, but this guy would be useful for almost every World Team. He will be asked to pull in the front for 180 KMs and he is able to do more than that. He is no Cheng Ji or Ahmed Madan.

 

[RedheadDane]

Why is almost everyone so stranged about Johansen? The strange fact is he had to drop down to Portugal for this season. He is a quality rider whose place is the World Tour.

If he'd signed with, I dunno... EF, I wouldn't have been quite so surprised.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

A successful team will always need 'ordinary' workers, who just get on with the job, without receiving any plaudits.......this is one of those signings. I can recall plenty of top sports teams who had these types........I think it's a pretty decent signing.

 

[MLKarlos]

A successful team will always need 'ordinary' workers, who just get on with the job, without receiving any plaudits.......this is one of those signings. I can recall plenty of top sports teams who had these types........I think it's a pretty decent signing.

I think this point often gets overlooked. A team cannot have 30 Pogacar or Evenepoels. Would not work

 

[Wyndbrook]

Axandre Van Peteghem (no, his first name is not a typo and yes he's the son of Peter) goes pro with WBX2

I quite like offspring making it to pro level. I don't think he will be a multiple monuments winner, but I wish him best.
His dad had a bit of a habit of winning Roubaix and then coasting through the rest of the year, occasionally waking up for the worlds. I seem to recall an interview where he said aimed to earn his wages by the middle of April.

 

[Anderis]

A successful team will always need 'ordinary' workers, who just get on with the job, without receiving any plaudits.......this is one of those signings. I can recall plenty of top sports teams who had these types........I think it's a pretty decent signing.

For some reason some people expect that big teams should never sign these lesser riders but you can't have a team of 30 top riders or top future prospects.

There are only 24 potential GT spots in a team per year and some riders will ride 2 GT so at max you can guarantee around 20 riders to ride a GT during a year. But you need several more to round out the team. Every team needs those few riders without much ambition that will be happy to ride mostly smaller races and in support role. One WT team can't accomodate for 30 riders with big ambitions.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Axandre Van Peteghem (no, his first name is not a typo and yes he's the son of Peter) goes pro with WBX2

But his last name is a typo

 

[Offline]

Why is almost everyone so stranged about Johansen? The strange fact is he had to drop down to Portugal for this season. He is a quality rider whose place is the World Tour.

A big powerhorse, with a great speed for a KM - I think his true place is be second or third to last in a sprint train, he did a wonderful job in the Gerben Thijssen sprint train in 2023 - Julius is a capable TTer, above average in echelons and a perfect support rider in northern classics, where he can help navigate a team until the last hour / hour and half of the race.

Sure he is no prolific winner or world beater, but this guy would be useful for almost every World Team. He will be asked to pull in the front for 180 KMs and he is able to do more than that. He is no Cheng Ji or Ahmed Madan.

Agree and Julius Johansen takes Michael Vink spot. - So nothing to lose

 

[Tim Cahill]

Why is almost everyone so stranged about Johansen? The strange fact is he had to drop down to Portugal for this season. He is a quality rider whose place is the World Tour.

A big powerhorse, with a great speed for a KM - I think his true place is be second or third to last in a sprint train, he did a wonderful job in the Gerben Thijssen sprint train in 2023 - Julius is a capable TTer, above average in echelons and a perfect support rider in northern classics, where he can help navigate a team until the last hour / hour and half of the race.

Sure he is no prolific winner or world beater, but this guy would be useful for almost every World Team. He will be asked to pull in the front for 180 KMs and he is able to do more than that. He is no Cheng Ji or Ahmed Madan.

I don't think it's Johansen's ability that is bewildering people, It's more because of the team he comes from, historically the W52/Efapel/Glassdives were considered off-limits (with exceptions) for WT signings.
[Moderator note: I have deleted part of this message, but it is the OP of a new thread in the clinic: please direct any responses there]

 

[yaco]

I don't think it's Johansen's ability that is bewildering people, It's more because of the team he comes from, historically the W52/Efapel/Glassdives were considered off-limits (with exceptions) for WT signings [deleted content]

James Whelan was recruited to Q36.5 in 2024 after riding for a year in the peleton. Riding for a year in Portugal without dominating is hardly likely to raise suspicions.

 

[Roku]

Daniel Benson announces the renewal of Taco with Wanty

 

[Wvv]

Van Gils and Lotto go different ways. Both parties came to an agreement. No news yet about his future team.

 

[Roku]

Van Gils and Lotto go different ways. Both parties came to an agreement. No news yet about his future team.

Multiple reports claiming it's Red Bull-Bora

 

[Berniece]

Van Gils and Lotto go different ways. Both parties came to an agreement. No news yet about his future team.

Really hope it’s Bora, would be a shame he went to Astana for the money

 

[laarsland]

Really hope it’s Bora, would be a shame he went to Astana for the money

….unlike going to Bora for the money?

 

[Berniece]

….unlike going to Bora for the money?

Bora offers way more than just money. Better coaches, trainers, nutritionists, etc. Basically they are better than Lotto at probably everything besides youth development. Would be lame that he goes to Astana for more money, if he could get more than enough at Bora while simultaneously ride better results.

 

[MLKarlos]

Let`s see, I just believe it once I see the official communication. TBH I would be really suprised if he goes to RB, just from a "how many chances do I get" perspective. Quite a few guys for those one day races now.