Arkea posted their official roster(s) for next year a couple of days ago, so it would appear 27 is the minimum.
-
The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Arkea posted their official roster(s) for next year a couple of days ago, so it would appear 27 is the minimum.
Fair enough, someone told me it was 28 which did seem high to me.
Pretty sure 28 is the highest number of rider a team can have, without having at least two neo-pros.
However, I'm not sure how relevant that even is, as I'm not sure there are any teams that don't have neo-pros.
ridiculous .. I thought he decided to wait for a year and make the move next year when he moves on from the U23 squad.
Ya, wasn't the decision based on being able to ride l'Avenir and U-23 Worlds. Or was that just an excuse when it turned out he was stuck.
I dont know. I just find the constant decision back and forth from riders ridiculous.
Minimum: 27
Maximum: 28 (can be extended up to 30 with two neo-pros).
Neo-pros are under-23 riders on their first two years of a pro contract. They have to be 23 or under the year their first professional contract starts. So:
- A 24-year-old rider can be considered a neo pro if he is in the second year of his first pro contract.
- A 22-year-old in his third pro season won't be considered neo-pro anymore.
So, using my team (Jayco AlUla) as an example, the following would be considered neo-Pro's for the 2025 season:
Davide De Pretto, Bob Donaldson, Anders Foldager and Jelte Krijnsen.
And then Donaldson and Krijnsen would be neo pro's for 2026 as well?
He would be riding for Red Bulls devo team, not pro team. So that part didn't change. He decided to stay cause they didn't want the legal trouble breaking the contract, but now they've obviously seen it's pretty easy. Maybe Lotto puts their feet down more in this case cause it isn't a big money one, they could actually try to make this a legal battle if they want and see where it goes. We'll have to wait and see, all I know is there's talks behind the scenes and Red Bull is once again involved.
Correct
And they have 2 other neos for 2026: Wil Holmes and Hamish McKenzie. Holmes is doing his first U23 season with Hagens Berman Jayco, McKenzie was due to go pro in 2025, but between he and Jayco, they decided another U23 season at Hagens Berman was best for development. Hard to argue with that logic, this wasn't his best year, even on the TT bike. Still, two more promising Aussies
At least until a few years ago (unsure if it is still the same) the asian top teams, especially japanese, were able to pay european riders more than domestic CT or even lesser PCT teams (equivalent of current Corratec, Euskaltel and co).
I guess that will be the case with Bregnhoj, since he could be a prominent figure in many CT european teams.
That's what I've often hearded, the money was good on the bigger Asian CT teams. They do expect you to be more self reliant and able to train/peak for the right events while having your own coach/doing it on your own, making it more of an option for older, experienced riders. At least that's what I've heared about the Japanese teams.
And we had 6 this last year between the two earlier ones, Engelhardt, Berhe, Porter and Quick
And yeah, we have the fewest Aussies on our roster ever next season with only 7. Not including trainees. Will be nice to have some fresh Aussie talent on the squad
Last edited:
They actually have eight Aussies on the team. You dont want to go down the path of the team falling to Aussie media pressure and giving contracts to riders like Porter and Quick. Better to be lean and mean.
Taco extension is now official. This brings Wanty roster to 28 riders and probably calls the transfer season a day. Don't see much value in the unsigned riders (bar the ones we already know to have signed a contract like Eiking). Maybe De Bod or Hermans on minimum wage one year contracts but don't see it happening.
Next season we most notably have Busatto, Thijssen, Braet and Goossens ending their contract. I guess Bussatto will get a financially lucrative offer from a higher profile team and leave, but hope to keep the rest -Goossens is a bit tricky with his injury issues but very valuable if healthy.
Then extend with Van Sintmartensdijk who definitely has the profile of a long term stay on the team and replace the ageing Meintjes, Petit, Petilli, Van Hoecke and the underperfoming Colleoni and Kuypers with the devo riders: Elmar Abma, Felix-Orn Kristoff, Simone Gualdi, Axel Van den Broek. High value in our devo team.
But we will have to wait several months for this to happen.
Next season we most notably have Busatto, Thijssen, Braet and Goossens ending their contract. I guess Bussatto will get a financially lucrative offer from a higher profile team and leave, but hope to keep the rest -Goossens is a bit tricky with his injury issues but very valuable if healthy.
Then extend with Van Sintmartensdijk who definitely has the profile of a long term stay on the team and replace the ageing Meintjes, Petit, Petilli, Van Hoecke and the underperfoming Colleoni and Kuypers with the devo riders: Elmar Abma, Felix-Orn Kristoff, Simone Gualdi, Axel Van den Broek. High value in our devo team.
But we will have to wait several months for this to happen.
I wonder where the extra budget went to. I guess someone like Kristoff is for example already earning a decent salary as a devo rider. Some performance stuff probably also. But it doesn't explain a multiple million increase.
And they announced it on a Wednesday? I am disappointed!
I'm an idiot... I was reading this, all "But... Kristoff left. He's with Uno-X, and he's not a dev... Oh... Ørn-Kristoff! The little one."
Is he the type of rider that's going to do well on the Asian calendar? He's not got a super fast finish I think and he's not so good on the big climbs. Are there enough hilly races for him to succeed? Maybe somewhere like Taiwan or Kyushu (or the Chinese .Pro races if they get invites).
What Aussie media pressure? It’s such a niche sport in Australia that I highly doubt they feel any significant media pressure in regards to the squad.
The Australian cycling mafia who have contact with Jerry Ryan. He was under pressure two or three years ago to have more Aussie, after COVID. The women's team suffer the opposite problem. They can't attract Aussie women to join their team.
Last edited:
TRENDING THREADS
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 29K
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread
- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 11K
-
Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread- Started by LaFlorecita
- Replies: 51K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Teams & Riders Everybody needs a little bit of Roglstomp in their lives- Started by johnymax
- Replies: 19K
-
Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.- Started by Miburo
- Replies: 21K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram