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

[Samamba]

So the merger could simply end up being Intermarché calling it quits like B&B rather than an actual merger then?

Yeah but with Lotto saving Intermarchés managements and some riders asses, while at the same time annoying their own riders and staff.

(I think Intermarché in some sort of form will be on board but not as big as they hoped for and too late so that most interesting riders have left).

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Yeah but with Lotto saving Intermarchés managements and some riders asses, while at the same time annoying their own riders and staff.

(I think Intermarché in some sort of form will be on board but not as big as they hoped for and too late so that most interesting riders have left).

Letting Bonneu is honestly the stupidest move they made since....
Ah *** it, too many *** decisions to compare with.

For a country that loves cycling this much, we do seem to be *** at running an efficient team. God bless good ol' Flemish farmers are in charge of Quick-Step.

 

[ingsve]

Yeah but with Lotto saving Intermarchés managements and some riders asses, while at the same time annoying their own riders and staff.

Well, after the poor season they had on their own they needed some type of shake up I suppose either way.

 

[Samamba]

Letting Bonneu is honestly the stupidest move they made since....
Ah *** it, too many *** decisions to compare with.

For a country that loves cycling this much, we do seem to be *** at running an efficient team. God bless good ol' Flemish farmers are in charge of Quick-Step.

Bonneu is one of the riders that Adam Hansen himself had to inform he was about to lose his job. Bourlart, someone who has been called a great CEO and peoplesmanager, didn't have the human decency to tell him himself. And now this guy gets bailed out by Lotto to probably ruin another team after he already put Intermarché in the grave.

I have no idea why they are ditching Bonneu. They have barely any climbers left and then they choose to pick another domestique or fake sprinter that can't survive a hill over him.

 

[Berniece]

(I think Intermarché in some sort of form will be on board but not as big as they hoped for and too late so that most interesting riders have left).

I would think that’s the first thing you discuss… How can you make a proper budget and on top of that strategic decisions if you aren’t even sure how much money is coming in.

How early were these talks leaked to the press. Did a single person write an email “I have an idea”, and this was leaked immediately?

 

[ingsve]

I would think that’s the first thing you discuss… How can you make a proper budget and on top of that strategic decisions if you aren’t even sure how much money is coming in.

How early were these talks leaked to the press. Did a single person write an email “I have an idea”, and this was leaked immediately?

Wasn't there also talk of debt that Lotto had as well that they were debating what to do with? If a significant part of the budget goes to settle the debt then that would explain a more strained budget for the team.

 

[JosephD]

Movistar confirm the renewals of Torres, Nairo (2026), Oliveira, Arcas (2027), as well as extensions to 2028 for Cepeda and Aular, who had contracts for 2026 anyway.

Pau Marti goes pro with IPT or Cycling Academy

Any news on SportVlaanderen? Joppe Heremans has remained a Conti rider with Van Rysel-Roubaix, he's a rider TSV would have hoovered up in previous seasons...

 

[staubsauger]

Its them or skil shimano (the team now known as Picnic Post)

Skil-Shimano actually rode an very active 2009 Tour de France. Both ASO & public were very pleased with their performance back then!

RAGT had Christophe Riblon who aimed at some sort of return after his never matched 4th place at the 1998 Tour de France.

BigMat actually had Lilian LeBreton who was considered a decent climber and former talent that missed his breakthrough. Nevertheless on paper he and Laurent Madouas were a good combination for attacks in the mountains. Of course BigMat had zero chance in the arms race. Frankly, I wouldn't exactly call that sportive criteria!

So yeah RAGT was by far the worst wildcard team. Skil earned their invitation and I give BigMat the benefit that they were a decent team on paper!

 

[Samamba]

I would think that’s the first thing you discuss… How can you make a proper budget and on top of that strategic decisions if you aren’t even sure how much money is coming in.

How early were these talks leaked to the press. Did a single person write an email “I have an idea”, and this was leaked immediately?

Immediately. Talks started in July so...

But yeah you would think so. No idea what they've been talking about for 3 months straight if sponsors (apparently also shirt sponsor, helmet sponsor, etc) aren't even worked out yet. Haek and Bourlart probably only talked about what would be in it for them personally, like the shares Bourlart would get lol.

This whole thing is a straight up joke. Bourlart didn't have any cards to play given his team was dead anyways but got ownership share and the CEO position (and a lot of his staff and riders saved) and Lotto got almost nothing positive in return. Master negotiator Haek!

 

[Samamba]

Wasn't there also talk of debt that Lotto had as well that they were debating what to do with? If a significant part of the budget goes to settle the debt then that would explain a more strained budget for the team.

Intermarché was in debt, not Lotto.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So the merger could simply end up being Intermarché calling it quits like B&B rather than an actual merger then?

Has there ever actually been a merger in cycling? I'd say it is always a case of one team folding, and another offering itself as a liferaft to some of the staff, and sometimes able to offer a deal to sponsors. But in terms of pre-existing assets, liabilities and contractual obligations, it seems that those of one team remain, those of the other are part of a wrapping up procedure.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Has there ever actually been a merger in cycling? I'd say it is always a case of one team folding, and another offering itself as a liferaft to some of the staff, and sometimes able to offer a deal to sponsors. But in terms of pre-existing assets, liabilities and contractual obligations, it seems that those of one team remain, those of the other are part of a wrapping up procedure.

Team Cannondale-Garmin?

 

[pastronef]

Has there ever actually been a merger in cycling? I'd say it is always a case of one team folding, and another offering itself as a liferaft to some of the staff, and sometimes able to offer a deal to sponsors. But in terms of pre-existing assets, liabilities and contractual obligations, it seems that those of one team remain, those of the other are part of a wrapping up procedure.

the "merger" is legally impossibile. 2 UCI licenses can't merge. just 1 will stay. like Leopard-Radioshack, or Liquigas(Cannondale)-Garmin.
did Lampre-Saeco(Caffitta) "merge" in 2005 too, no?
or Wagner-Wallonie-Bruxelles

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

the "merger" is legally impossibile. 2 UCI licenses can't merge. just 1 will stay. like Leopard-Radioshack, or Liquigas(Cannondale)-Garmin.
did Lampre-Saeco(Caffitta) "merge" in 2005 too, no?
or Wagner-Wallonie-Bruxelles

Two companies can merge, and it happens in many industries: a complete unification of their assets, liabilities and obligations into one new entity. Duplicated assets that are either inefficient or redundant in that event, like a second UCI licence, could then (subject to restrictions) be sold on.

But in cycling we seem to very often talk of mergers when what is happening is something different.

 

[staubsauger]

the "merger" is legally impossibile. 2 UCI licenses can't merge. just 1 will stay. like Leopard-Radioshack, or Liquigas(Cannondale)-Garmin.
did Lampre-Saeco(Caffitta) "merge" in 2005 too, no?
or Wagner-Wallonie-Bruxelles

I think the Lampe & Saeco thing was more handled like when Bruyneel jumped into Astana with Discovery Channel / former US Postal and had riders still contracted to his company so brought Contador & Leipheimer with him.

 

[staubsauger]

If Titema gets a Tour de France invitation Uijtdebroeks should have taken the big gamble and gone there to grow with them as team leader!

 

[RedheadDane]

Anthon Charmig returns to Uno-X Mobility on two-year deal — Uno-X Mobility

Danish rider Anthon Charmig will return to Uno-X Mobility Cycling in 2026, having signed a two-year contract running through the end of the 2027 season .

www.unoxteam.com

 

[ingsve]

Has there ever actually been a merger in cycling? I'd say it is always a case of one team folding, and another offering itself as a liferaft to some of the staff, and sometimes able to offer a deal to sponsors. But in terms of pre-existing assets, liabilities and contractual obligations, it seems that those of one team remain, those of the other are part of a wrapping up procedure.

Well, that's mainly semantics and legal frameworks. Even if in cycling a merger isn't the same as a corporate merger we can still talk about what the concept means in terms of the cycling world. I would categorize it as if the remaining team has both significant staff, riders and sponsorship money from both teams then they have merged in the cycling world.

What it sounded like from Samamba was that it was still unclear whether Intermarché would still be involved at all which would make it less of a merger even in the cycling world sense. If it went even further and fewer than expected Intermarché riders join the team as well it would really seem more like just a team folding rather than an actual merger which we have seen in the past.

 

[ingsve]

Anthon Charmig returns to Uno-X Mobility on two-year deal — Uno-X Mobility

Danish rider Anthon Charmig will return to Uno-X Mobility Cycling in 2026, having signed a two-year contract running through the end of the 2027 season .

www.unoxteam.com

“My favourite races are the hilly one-day races – a type of race where the team is really strong, and I am excited to be a part of that.”

I would actually say that hilly one-day races is an area where Uno-X has been the weakest. They've had a few riders like THJ and to some extent Magnus Cort and Johannes Kulset who can follow WT riders in those races but the overall breadth and support for those races has been poorer.

Now with Kamp, Charmig and even Tjötta and Svarre joining the team looks stronger in that terrain. If also Kron can get healthy and back to his best then they will have a good well rounded squad for those types of races.

 

[JRanton]

Elie Gesbert (Arkea) retires.

 

[Samamba]

According to Bram Vandecappelle (HLN) it's now 80% sure that Girmay will leave (Lotto)-Intermarché en join Premier Tech (or whatever it's gonna be called). 3 months of only talking to Girmay and ignoring every other good riders didn't seem to have worked out for Bourlart.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

According to Bram Vandecappelle (HLN) it's now 80% sure that Girmay will leave (Lotto)-Intermarché en join Premier Tech (or whatever it's gonna be called). 3 months of only talking to Girmay and ignoring every other good riders didn't seem to have worked out for Bourlart.

Good, give Bonneu his spot

 

[Samu Cuenca]

When St. Michel announced that Simone Boilard was returning to the them a couple of weeks back, she mentioned in the press release that she was looking forward to riding with some fellow Canadians. However, at that point she was actually the only confirmed Canadian member of the 2026 roster, but they soon announced that the unlucky Clara Emond will also be moving to the team.

Today they teased that they would announce a new Canadian rider soon and since no other well known options were available, unless Summer McIntosh or Penny Oleksiak had suddenly decided to switch sports, it did ultimately turn out to be Alison Jackson.