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

[Ilmaestro99]

Felix Grosdnjgasdnglan until 2027 too, he must have compromising pictures of the sheik in a lockbox somewhere. Fair play to him

Very deisprespectful to the uphill climbing time trial champion of europe

 

[JosephD]

Seems like its official transfer extension day...

Oscar Riesebeek and Silvan Dillier get two more years with Alpecin, Lennert Belmans and the talented Aaron Dockx will step up to the pros in 2026 too.

Ourselin, Maas and Robeet are extended at Cofidis

Another year for Landa at QS, 2 more for Intermarche and Thijssen

 

[Pozzovivo]

Ourselin, Maas and Robeet are extended at Cofidis

Cofidis keeps rewarding riders who grovel before Vasseur, no matter their results or performance. Another blow for us fans. #VasseurOut

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Cofidis keeps rewarding riders who grovel before Vasseur, no matter their results or performance. Another blow for us fans. #VasseurOut

Don't know about the first two, but Robeet is a very solid rider. Without him Fretin doesn't pick up 125 points in Ronde Van Limburg for example.
Robeet brought back the breakaway with 3 alpecin riders thus resulting in a bunch sprint. He's a good domestique rider who probably isn't on that much money.
And you have a guy who is very happy to just be a workhouse on the minor calendar.

 

[Samamba]

Benson:

• Wright -> Ineos, Jayco, Q36.5?
• Askey leaving FDJ
• Kirsch leaving Lidl (weird to me but ok)
• Bennett probably leaving Decathlon with Kooij coming in
• Covi -> Astana, Ineos, Visma?
• Vendrame -> FDJ?
• Harold Lopez can extend with Astana, but Red Bull and Bahrain interested
• Fortunato extending at Astana
• Haig might go back to Jayco

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Benson:

• Wright -> Ineos, Jayco, Q36.5?
• Askey leaving FDJ
• Kirsch leaving Lidl (weird to me but ok)
• Bennett probably leaving Decathlon with Kooij coming in
• Covi -> Astana, Ineos, Visma?
• Vendrame -> FDJ?
• Harold Lopez can extend with Astana, but Red Bull and Bahrain interested
• Fortunato extending at Astana
• Haig might go back to Jayco

Kirsch leaving could be a sign that Pedersen will as well.

 

[Samamba]

Kirsch leaving could be a sign that Pedersen will as well.

Yeah, but wouldn't there also been rumors about that already?
It was already weird that Kirsch got left out of the Giro selection while he was definitely expected there.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Benson:

• Wright -> Ineos, Jayco, Q36.5?
• Askey leaving FDJ
• Kirsch leaving Lidl (weird to me but ok)
• Bennett probably leaving Decathlon with Kooij coming in
• Covi -> Astana, Ineos, Visma?
• Vendrame -> FDJ?
• Harold Lopez can extend with Astana, but Red Bull and Bahrain interested
• Fortunato extending at Astana
• Haig might go back to Jayco

Astana makes sense for Covi, a potential upgrade from Ulissi. Ineos are a bit of a meme at this point, but I can't see Visma wanting to actually sign him, for what?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yeah, but wouldn't there also been rumors about that already?
It was already weird that Kirsch got left out of the Giro selection while he was definitely expected there.

Unless a new contract is announced soon those rumours will probably also start to appear. I obviously don't know what is going on behind the scenes, but Pedersen staying without Kirsch would be more surprising to me than the opposite at this point.

 

[Samamba]

Some rumors coming from French press that PicNic is in talks with Gaudu to replace Bardet.

 

[AupaPyama]

Yeah, but wouldn't there also been rumors about that already?
It was already weird that Kirsch got left out of the Giro selection while he was definitely expected there.

He is injured I think? I dont expect Lidl to leave Kirsch at home for the Giro due to contract issues. Just like Gibbons.

 

[AupaPyama]

Some rumors coming from French press that PicNic is in talks with Gaudu to replace Bardet.

They need to do something for a Tour 26 wildcard.

 

[pastronef]

They need to do something for a Tour 26 wildcard.

also, now Lapierre is with PicNic. they'd welcome back Gaudu for sure

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Some rumors coming from French press that PicNic is in talks with Gaudu to replace Bardet.

I can't think of a character that would suit PicNic worse than Gaudu

 

[pastronef]

Bernaudeau (TotalEnergies-Vendée group) will continue after Total will leave to Ineos. they'll get a new sponsor (from the French forum Gruppetto)

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Bernaudeau (TotalEnergies-Vendée group) will continue after Total will leave to Ineos. they'll get a new sponsor (from the French forum Gruppetto)

This French team always seems to pull a new sponsor out of the hat when they need one - despite poor performances.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This French team always seems to pull a new sponsor out of the hat when they need one - despite poor performances.

Being based in one of the most cycling-supportive parts of France probably helps with that.

 

[Netserk]

Being based in one of the most cycling-supportive parts of France probably helps with that.

The Tour doesn't visit Vendée as much as it previously has though. So I think Arkea should more easily find new sponsors than Total.

 

[Cycling920]

Gianni Vermeersch is close to moving from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe🇧🇪🇩🇪, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

According to the Flemish newspaper, Vermeersch's teammate Timo Kielich🇧🇪 is also looking for other options. He reportedly already has a verbal agreement with Visma | Lease a bike🇳🇱.

 

[jono]

Gianni Vermeersch is close to moving from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe🇧🇪🇩🇪, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

According to the Flemish newspaper, Vermeersch's teammate Timo Kielich🇧🇪 is also looking for other options. He reportedly already has a verbal agreement with Visma | Lease a bike🇳🇱.

Hermans and Meurisse also have offers from Q36.5. Lots of shoes to fill for Alpecin in 2026, including a new title sponsor.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Alpecin have Senna Remijn, Sente Sentjens and Dockx coming through who are excellent talents (though the latter more a climber type), they should be alright in the long term, though they will need someone a bit more experienced surely for the next year or two to control in the classics.

 

[Filippo_3467]

Gianni Vermeersch is close to moving from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe🇧🇪🇩🇪, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

According to the Flemish newspaper, Vermeersch's teammate Timo Kielich🇧🇪 is also looking for other options. He reportedly already has a verbal agreement with Visma | Lease a bike🇳🇱.

So the next riders who will be disappearing in the black hole called the Red Bull classic team Good news for Pogis and Mads Roubaix challenge

 

[Rockestar_33]

Benson:

• Wright -> Ineos, Jayco, Q36.5?
• Askey leaving FDJ
• Kirsch leaving Lidl (weird to me but ok)
• Bennett probably leaving Decathlon with Kooij coming in
• Covi -> Astana, Ineos, Visma?
• Vendrame -> FDJ?
• Harold Lopez can extend with Astana, but Red Bull and Bahrain interested
• Fortunato extending at Astana
• Haig might go back to Jayco

Haig and BOC are best mates but he has ambitions of being a super domestique for one of the big 4.

Looks likely that we bring Wellsford in as well, with Groenewegen likely to leave. Fred Wright? I don't mind it. Bit of a sideways move for him if he comes here though tbh.

 

[Samamba]

Benson about Trek:
- Pedersen has extended some time ago (why we haven't hear any rumors)
- Stuyven (QS), Hoole (Decathlon) and Kirsch (Cofidis?) leaving
- Declercq might extend for 1y
- Theuns extending for 2y
- No decision on Juanpe
- Riccitello and Cras (has also interest from Ineos and Belgian teams) being named as potential recruits.

 

[Mayomaniac]

According to Italian media Piganzoli is really close to signing a 3 year contract with Visma.