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

[Wyndbrook]

Any idea where Stefano Oldani will end up? Too good a rider not to get a contract at a PCT at a minimum IMO

He is, but there are so many riders in the same boat this season. Pcs still lists 94 world tour riders without a confirmed contract.

 

[Rockestar_33]

He is, but there are so many riders in the same boat this season. Pcs still lists 94 world tour riders without a confirmed contract.

Yeah, but most of the ones considered above him at least have rumours as to where they might end up, or if they're staying. Oldani at 27 is entering his prime, cannot be at Cofidis as they've filled their roster and is a pretty handy guy as part of a lead out train as well as a good points scorer as he has 47 top 10 finishes since turning pro in 2020.

I can see roles at Alpecin (if they'll take him back, not sure how things were left there), Bahrain, Cycling Academy (is premier tech dropping out?), EF, Ineos, Jayco and Astana at WT level for him, and pretty much any PCT that isn't full (thus discounting the three top of them).

I've seen nothing as to where he could end up

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Norwegian TV2 says that Træen is on the way back to Uno-X after all!

 

[pastronef]

Girmay should stay at Lotto-Intermarché, from what I read on the French Gruppetto forum

 

[Samamba]

Girmay should stay at Lotto-Intermarché, from what I read on the French Gruppetto forum

I mean it's a logical thought after this Marit rumor given (as I understood it, could be wrong honestly) he was the one depending on Girmay leaving or not. Also with Premier Tech leaving out of nowhere I doubt Israel even has the money to pay for Girmay right now.

 

[JosephD]

Unibet Rose Rockets add Ronan Auge plus their two trainees Colin Savioz and Eivind Broholt Fougner. Possibly still Venturini and Karsten Larsen Feldmann to come based on rumours. Notably stocking up on Frenchmen...

 

[pastronef]

I mean it's a logical thought after this Marit rumor given (as I understood it, could be wrong honestly) he was the one depending on Girmay leaving or not. Also with Premier Tech leaving out of nowhere I doubt Israel even has the money to pay for Girmay right now.

Marit signs for Redbull no?

 

[Samamba]

Unibet Rose Rockets add Ronan Auge plus their two trainees Colin Savioz and Eivind Broholt Fougner. Possibly still Venturini and Karsten Larsen Feldmann to come based on rumours. Notably stocking up on Frenchmen...

Venturini got an offer but apparently never responded to that so definitely not a certainty as he's probably still hoping to get a better contract somewhere else.

 

[Samamba]

Marit signs for Redbull no?

Yes, but from what I've heard he was the rider that wasn't given the green light to leave immediately cause the merger team mightve want to keep him if Girmay left. So if true (like I said before, my sources have been a bit meeh since this merger) his transfer to Red Bull could mean that Girmay is staying at the merged team.

 

[ingsve]

Unibet Rose Rockets add Ronan Auge plus their two trainees Colin Savioz and Eivind Broholt Fougner. Possibly still Venturini and Karsten Larsen Feldmann to come based on rumours. Notably stocking up on Frenchmen...

Stocking up on norwegians as well by hte looks of it. If they get Feldmann that would be 4.

Looks like they could become like a PT farm team for Uno-X. Had hoped Feldmann would end up with them instead but give him a couple years in Rockets and Uno-X can come get him then.

 

[search]

Sepulveda heads off to China for next year. Or every now and then, at least.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1987896413393391982

View: https://x.com/dnlbenson/status/1987896413393391982

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View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4TTfnCPGr/

 

[Rockestar_33]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1988156133757038797

View: https://x.com/BurgosBH/status/1988156133757038797?t=VAsxGFzPzGPPdVA5APSAAQ&s=19

 

[Mina.S]

Does anyone have any insight on what’s happening in the women’s world tour? Seems like a lot of riders still floating around.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Does anyone have any insight on what’s happening in the women’s world tour? Seems like a lot of riders still floating around.

Pcs still lists over 60 world tour riders without a contract for next year. Some will likely be unannounced resignings, but with the demise of several teams there will be a lot of riders out of a job.
Arkea and Ceratizit are gone, Roland are doubtful with no riders listed, Lotto ladies are still waiting the outcome if the messy merger scenario. Fenix only list 9 riders currently.
Basically UAE and Lidl are the moneybags, FDJ have reduced their squad and will ride less races, also SDworx have cut numbers.

 

[Roku]

Read a rumour that both Dries de Pooter and Maxence Place will join Soudal devo for next season. I guess De Pooter would have a similar role to Ceriel Desal and mainly ride a professional program. He is already a worthy domestique for the belgium and french calendar.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Looking at the riders on the men's side, I'd expect the top 35 or so to get a contract somewhere, with at least 7 sides short of the minimum for next season in Alpecin (19), Bahrain Victorious (25), Cycling Academy (25), EF (22), Lotto-Intermarche (18) and Jayco (22)

There's 17 open spots (most of which will be re-signings in fairness), but I'd expect most teams operating 28-30 rather than 26/27 so plenty of open spots

 

[yaco]

Looking at the riders on the men's side, I'd expect the top 35 or so to get a contract somewhere, with at least 7 sides short of the minimum for next season in Alpecin (19), Bahrain Victorious (25), Cycling Academy (25), EF (22), Lotto-Intermarche (18) and Jayco (22)

There's 17 open spots (most of which will be re-signings in fairness), but I'd expect most teams operating 28-30 rather than 26/27 so plenty of open spots

Jayco will run with 29. Holmes will stay on the development team so that is 21. Add Foldager, DaPretto, Hellmose, Englehardt and O'Brien and you have 26. Dont rule out Welsford.

 

[Potomac]

I have seen or heard anything but Kwiatkowski seems like the type of signing EF would make.

 

[Rockestar_33]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1988577521948938329

View: https://x.com/picnicpostnl/status/1988577521948938329?s=20

 

[Rockestar_33]

Jayco will run with 29. Holmes will stay on the development team so that is 21. Add Foldager, DaPretto, Hellmose, Englehardt and O'Brien and you have 26. Dont rule out Welsford.

Assuming the above is correct, not sure we have the depth to support two sprint trains. Capiot, De Bondt, Donaldson, Matthews, Mezgec, Schmid and O'Brien really the only ones who can do that sort of role, and when you consider four of them are going to have individual targets as well...

Biggest issue is that Durbridge, Gamper, Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin are too similar in the way they are good work horses but not overly good for a lead out train due to average acceleration. I'd rather focus on Ackermann, work out his train from the 7 above.

If the last two members are dedicated sprint train members like Edmondson and Scotson (not necessarily them but as an example), then yeah, run multiple trains.

 

[Samamba]

I have seen or heard anything but Kwiatkowski seems like the type of signing EF would make.

He extended with Ineos, also pretty sure EF has already communicated their transfer season is finished. There's just a bunch of guys who have extended already or still had a contract like Carapaz

 

[search]

the rumours about an early retirement were fake news indeed. Paco Mancebo joins Pingtan International Tourism Island Cycling Team

https://www.marca.com/ciclismo/2025/11/12/eterno-paco-mancebo-cumplira-50-anos-peloton.html

 

[yaco]

Assuming the above is correct, not sure we have the depth to support two sprint trains. Capiot, De Bondt, Donaldson, Matthews, Mezgec, Schmid and O'Brien really the only ones who can do that sort of role, and when you consider four of them are going to have individual targets as well...

Biggest issue is that Durbridge, Gamper, Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin are too similar in the way they are good work horses but not overly good for a lead out train due to average acceleration. I'd rather focus on Ackermann, work out his train from the 7 above.

If the last two members are dedicated sprint train members like Edmondson and Scotson (not necessarily them but as an example), then yeah, run multiple trains.

It's staggering that M.Scotson does not have a WT contract for 2026, seeing, he was an important part of Demare's sprint train. Jayco have enough riders for a sprint train which ideally needs three riders to support the sprinter, although you can do it with 2 riders. Gotta remember that the primary sprints contested for jayco will be lower level races.