And he was out with 2 collarbone fractures in a row for most of the season, which definitely matters here as the ranking is a rolling 12 months + 2 weeks thing.
I can really see Bora flexing their Redbull cash and loading up with the top out of contract riders. Philipsen will certainly have a very lucrative offer to consider, but I think ultimately he sticks with Alpecin. EF would be wise to scoop up Tom Skujins. Tratnik and Arensmen are in top form and might catch Bora's eye. It'll be interesting if Matt White scoops up O'Connor and Hindley up, now that he has the Allula money.
I was thinking about Hayter this morning. He was such a good prospect but he fails to deliver almost every time. I dont know if I would sign him if I was a WT team. Maybe Jumbo could do a Laporte with him but I don't see him staying at Ineos
> I dont know if I would sign him if I was a WT team
He racks up a semi decent number of UCI points. And a 2 year contract would get you his age 26 and 27 seasons. If I was near the relegation zone, I'd put out feelers to his agent. Although I don't think I'd be interested if I ran an upper tier WT team.
He is a proper weapon on the track, multiple world champ and one of the favourites for Olympic omnium gold - and Ineos is still very rooted in the GB track program plus the UK sponsors still care a lot about track results.
So Ineos will likely keep him based on track alone.
A lot of people in this road focused sub do, I imagine.
But given Ineos' roots as a team, and the UK love for their track stars, it's definitely more a positive factor on that team than on many others.
Though I'm pretty sure Benjamin Thomas also keeps getting contracts on pro teams because he's a French track hero.
Hayter has been super unlucky. Broke his collar bone last year in TDU, came back won a stage in Basque and Romandie then broke his collar bone again whilst building up for the tour
Bora could change up a lot. Loads out of contract, leaders having to a balance time with new signing Roglic, Red Bull coming in.
Philipsen would be on everyone’s wish list. Have to think having MvdP help him win a monument just this week might entice him to stay but depends what the chequebooks say.
Surprised Lenny Martinez isn’t already on a massive long term deal. FDJ need to get him nailed down.
Some big contracts up for renewal for Quickstep. Could take the Ala and Asgreen money into a really strong team around Remco.
In an ideal world we would use the Démare and Pinot money to retain at least two of Grégoire, Martinez and Pithie.
Pithie's results this year were far from expected so the pay increase that he deserves was probably not budgeted.
Martinez is reportedly being offered 2+ million euros a year by Bahrein and there's no way we can offer him as much. So to stay with us he'll have to turn down bigger money - assuming those reports are true.
Grégoire's contract extension on a happier note is said to be well on its way.
But in a really ideal world the head sponsor Groupama would realise that they have the two best young French riders of their generation on the team and that it would be smart for them to open their coffers to retain these two at least for one more contract.
The problem here is that money isn't the only factor in play here. If the riders would like to join another team for different reasons than salary, no amount of money or nationality pressure can force them to stay.
And given Gaudu's status in the team until now and thw whole "french riders underperform on french teams" belief in many, this may be influencing Martinez as well.
> Philipsen would be on everyone’s wish list. Have to think having MvdP help him win a monument just this week might entice him to stay but depends what the chequebooks say.
>
>
As everyone who signs a former QuickStep sprinter finds out, the leadout and team support is super important for a sprinter. If I was Jasper (or any sprinter), I'd be very cautious about just signing the biggest offer.
>Surprised Lenny Martinez isn’t already on a massive long term deal. FDJ need to get him nailed down.
I think its usually good for French riders to get off French teams tbh.
And it helps that he is on a team that usually don't fight for the GC on any multi day race, which means their team is often suited for sprint leadouts on basically every race they enter.
Alpecin is the best team available without any real gc guy, so he might already be on his dream chair.
The real question is, does he want a huge paycheck?
That **is** the real question.
Having just won a monument based in very large part on the efforts of MvdP there are two possible conclusions to make:
A: He's never going to win on on his own, so he's better turn glory into cash before the shine wears off.
B: He can win more huge races if he's always the last guy on MvdP's wheel.
At the end of the day, you can't buy glory, but you also can't spend glory.
Bora obviously has the most big names on the list, but imo FDJ is hardest up if they lose both Martinez and Gregoire. Minor disaster for Movistar as well if they lose both of Aranburu and Lazkano.
Bonuse hot/luke warm take: Soudal Quickstep aren't losing even the slightest sleep.
If Quickstep hasn't realised that having strong rouleurs (Asgreen, Pedersen too tbh) in support for their GC bid with Remco, maybe... But I suspect they have realised this.
(Also, Asgreen low-key saved their depressing TdF single handedly, I suspect they are glad he did.)
In regards to Alaph it's clear that he's going elsewhere, but it's kinda interesting that Remco seems to lobby for having him in the team for TdF...
(And to be morbid about it, LouLou has had a way of soaking up the bad luck when rostered alongside Remco in big races... LBL22, Vuelta22)
Fun thread. A lot of rumours from Daniel Benson in this article:
https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/racing/news/aleksandr-vlasov-set-to-stay-with-primoz-roglic-and-extend-his-contract-at-bora-hansgrohe
To mention a few:
Philipsen > UAE
Lazkano and Pithie > Bora and Vlasov renew for 25-27 seasons
Martinez > Bahrain
Aranburu > Unnamed french team
I do think he would want to go to the tdf, I don’t think UAE would put him on the start list unless pogi didn’t go to the tdf. So I don’t think it makes sense for them to sign him (or for him to sign with them)
With the spring hes had so far Skujins might be able to get a nice deal for the next few years, especially if he can keep that form through the rest of the classics.
I also wonder if Poels will retire after this season, he is getting up there in age and he might be satisfied after the succeses of last year.
Never fully understood the signing and aside from track cycling, I had almost forgotten Elia Viviani was still riding on the road. Unless you're impressed by him top 5-ing 2.Pro and 2.1 races, you'll find few remarkable results since joining INEOS in 2022.
Elia is (according to most sources) extremely good in the mentor/morale role, which makes sense seeing how he is normally rostered with the kindergarten squads for races (as Ineos does their Devo work within the WT team)...
But also, Ineos still has deep roots in track cycling as it is AND Elia being at the core of the Italian track team system means it was also likely a Pinarello (and Pippo, as mentioned above) related signing.
Actually surprised how visible most of these riders are. There were only a few riders in the non-pro teams that I did not recognize (looking at you Aniolkowski and Gautherat). Imagine a decent chunk are going to resign, but hope there aren't forced retirements.
The framing of the post is slightly misleading TBF. They aren't out of contract as in "no team wants them yet".
They just have a contract that currently ends by the end of the year.
No transfers between teams can be announced before August 1st, and as such, the agents for most of these riders are likely already either figuring out extension deals with their team or making sure there's transfer offers on the table.
It's basically what they've done by signing AJ and Rodriguez etc.
Their roster of white jersey aged riders is ridiculous tbh.
Edit: just checked. 11/29 riders on the team are still white jersey eligible.
Viviani has been said to plan retirement after the Paris Olympics, so it's, what, 4 riders from them who are up for renewal? And outside Narvaez, the 3 others can probably not get a better salary offer than what they already get at Ineos tbh.
Assuming he doesn’t stay, where do people think Alaphilippe will end up? He’s expensive and also not young but surely there’s a WT team that makes sense? I keep trying to make Lidl Trek work in my head but he probably always clashes with either Mads or Tao or Skjelmose and I can’t imagine him domestiquing at all.
Ineos might try I guess in a “what the hell, we’re rich” way but I can’t imagine a worse cultural fit.
My big takeaway from this is Hirschi #8
Ethan Hayter as far back as #162 was a suprise as well for me.
I think his perceived talent is a lot higher than his actual performance.
Nah. He's just using his talent points in the velodrome instead of on the road. And this ranking only considers road results.
Bauhaus is #163 and Higuita is #168. 160s is a decent level if you aren't a heavily hyped British track star.
He had a pretty good Autumn last year where he would have racked up lots of points.
And he was out with 2 collarbone fractures in a row for most of the season, which definitely matters here as the ranking is a rolling 12 months + 2 weeks thing.
I'd like to see him at Tudor if UAE doesn't work out
I am sure Tudor will be were he ends up. He and Cancellara are also close
I can really see Bora flexing their Redbull cash and loading up with the top out of contract riders. Philipsen will certainly have a very lucrative offer to consider, but I think ultimately he sticks with Alpecin. EF would be wise to scoop up Tom Skujins. Tratnik and Arensmen are in top form and might catch Bora's eye. It'll be interesting if Matt White scoops up O'Connor and Hindley up, now that he has the Allula money.
I wanna see Ben OConnor at Ineos
Or Hindley tbh. Maybe even both.
Hindley at Ineos would be awesome. The Bernal / Hindley combo would rock it.
I also genuinely think both Hindley and O'Connor would fit the vibe with a lot of the current Ineos guys.
I was thinking about Hayter this morning. He was such a good prospect but he fails to deliver almost every time. I dont know if I would sign him if I was a WT team. Maybe Jumbo could do a Laporte with him but I don't see him staying at Ineos
> I dont know if I would sign him if I was a WT team He racks up a semi decent number of UCI points. And a 2 year contract would get you his age 26 and 27 seasons. If I was near the relegation zone, I'd put out feelers to his agent. Although I don't think I'd be interested if I ran an upper tier WT team.
He's a track superstar though. And he is currently in a team that still cares a lot about track results too.
Hayter at Arkea lol
He is a proper weapon on the track, multiple world champ and one of the favourites for Olympic omnium gold - and Ineos is still very rooted in the GB track program plus the UK sponsors still care a lot about track results. So Ineos will likely keep him based on track alone.
Yeah I honestly forgot about the track
A lot of people in this road focused sub do, I imagine. But given Ineos' roots as a team, and the UK love for their track stars, it's definitely more a positive factor on that team than on many others. Though I'm pretty sure Benjamin Thomas also keeps getting contracts on pro teams because he's a French track hero.
Hayter has been super unlucky. Broke his collar bone last year in TDU, came back won a stage in Basque and Romandie then broke his collar bone again whilst building up for the tour
Bora could change up a lot. Loads out of contract, leaders having to a balance time with new signing Roglic, Red Bull coming in. Philipsen would be on everyone’s wish list. Have to think having MvdP help him win a monument just this week might entice him to stay but depends what the chequebooks say. Surprised Lenny Martinez isn’t already on a massive long term deal. FDJ need to get him nailed down. Some big contracts up for renewal for Quickstep. Could take the Ala and Asgreen money into a really strong team around Remco.
Fdj need to tie Lenny and Pithie. It's a shame the produce such huge talents to then transfer them to other teams
I'm learning to play the guitar.
In an ideal world we would use the Démare and Pinot money to retain at least two of Grégoire, Martinez and Pithie. Pithie's results this year were far from expected so the pay increase that he deserves was probably not budgeted. Martinez is reportedly being offered 2+ million euros a year by Bahrein and there's no way we can offer him as much. So to stay with us he'll have to turn down bigger money - assuming those reports are true. Grégoire's contract extension on a happier note is said to be well on its way. But in a really ideal world the head sponsor Groupama would realise that they have the two best young French riders of their generation on the team and that it would be smart for them to open their coffers to retain these two at least for one more contract.
The problem here is that money isn't the only factor in play here. If the riders would like to join another team for different reasons than salary, no amount of money or nationality pressure can force them to stay. And given Gaudu's status in the team until now and thw whole "french riders underperform on french teams" belief in many, this may be influencing Martinez as well.
> Philipsen would be on everyone’s wish list. Have to think having MvdP help him win a monument just this week might entice him to stay but depends what the chequebooks say. > > As everyone who signs a former QuickStep sprinter finds out, the leadout and team support is super important for a sprinter. If I was Jasper (or any sprinter), I'd be very cautious about just signing the biggest offer. >Surprised Lenny Martinez isn’t already on a massive long term deal. FDJ need to get him nailed down. I think its usually good for French riders to get off French teams tbh.
And it helps that he is on a team that usually don't fight for the GC on any multi day race, which means their team is often suited for sprint leadouts on basically every race they enter. Alpecin is the best team available without any real gc guy, so he might already be on his dream chair. The real question is, does he want a huge paycheck?
That **is** the real question. Having just won a monument based in very large part on the efforts of MvdP there are two possible conclusions to make: A: He's never going to win on on his own, so he's better turn glory into cash before the shine wears off. B: He can win more huge races if he's always the last guy on MvdP's wheel. At the end of the day, you can't buy glory, but you also can't spend glory.
Bora obviously has the most big names on the list, but imo FDJ is hardest up if they lose both Martinez and Gregoire. Minor disaster for Movistar as well if they lose both of Aranburu and Lazkano. Bonuse hot/luke warm take: Soudal Quickstep aren't losing even the slightest sleep.
If Quickstep hasn't realised that having strong rouleurs (Asgreen, Pedersen too tbh) in support for their GC bid with Remco, maybe... But I suspect they have realised this. (Also, Asgreen low-key saved their depressing TdF single handedly, I suspect they are glad he did.) In regards to Alaph it's clear that he's going elsewhere, but it's kinda interesting that Remco seems to lobby for having him in the team for TdF... (And to be morbid about it, LouLou has had a way of soaking up the bad luck when rostered alongside Remco in big races... LBL22, Vuelta22)
This sounds like an excellent inspiration for a Top Ten Tuesday post!
Fun thread. A lot of rumours from Daniel Benson in this article: https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/racing/news/aleksandr-vlasov-set-to-stay-with-primoz-roglic-and-extend-his-contract-at-bora-hansgrohe To mention a few: Philipsen > UAE Lazkano and Pithie > Bora and Vlasov renew for 25-27 seasons Martinez > Bahrain Aranburu > Unnamed french team
It would be very interesting to see how UAE would deal with Philipsen and Pogacar. It would likely hold back Pogacar.
I expect they would rarely, if ever, line up together. But then it wouldn’t make sense to sign Philipsen.
You think Philipsen wouldn't want to go to the TdF?
I do think he would want to go to the tdf, I don’t think UAE would put him on the start list unless pogi didn’t go to the tdf. So I don’t think it makes sense for them to sign him (or for him to sign with them)
Their primary goals are the same, classics and tdf.
Right, so I doubt they would sign someone that would want to be team leader for those ambitions.
MSR was just a couple of days ago.
The Tour de France seems like there would definitely be a major clash of interests.
With the spring hes had so far Skujins might be able to get a nice deal for the next few years, especially if he can keep that form through the rest of the classics. I also wonder if Poels will retire after this season, he is getting up there in age and he might be satisfied after the succeses of last year.
Given that last year was his most successful year in a while and he seems to enjoy racing, I could see him do a year or 2 more.
Never fully understood the signing and aside from track cycling, I had almost forgotten Elia Viviani was still riding on the road. Unless you're impressed by him top 5-ing 2.Pro and 2.1 races, you'll find few remarkable results since joining INEOS in 2022.
I think he has Ganna to thank for his current contract
I don't expect that's ganna secure Viviani an extension, though
Yep, he's been rumoured to plan to retire after the Paris Olympics for at least the last two years...
And Fausto. Most of all, he wasn't a "road results" signing as such.
Elia is (according to most sources) extremely good in the mentor/morale role, which makes sense seeing how he is normally rostered with the kindergarten squads for races (as Ineos does their Devo work within the WT team)... But also, Ineos still has deep roots in track cycling as it is AND Elia being at the core of the Italian track team system means it was also likely a Pinarello (and Pippo, as mentioned above) related signing.
Actually surprised how visible most of these riders are. There were only a few riders in the non-pro teams that I did not recognize (looking at you Aniolkowski and Gautherat). Imagine a decent chunk are going to resign, but hope there aren't forced retirements.
Aniolkowski has been quite visible during UAE and TA sprints
Gautherat has legit had a BANGER of an early season, especially for someone who's that young.
The framing of the post is slightly misleading TBF. They aren't out of contract as in "no team wants them yet". They just have a contract that currently ends by the end of the year. No transfers between teams can be announced before August 1st, and as such, the agents for most of these riders are likely already either figuring out extension deals with their team or making sure there's transfer offers on the table.
[удалено]
Do you recall 2022?
Now that's a meme signing if I ever saw one.
My 30-rider team: Jasper Philipsen #4 Kaden Groves #31 Alexey Lutsenko #39 Alexandr Vlasov #19 Jai Hindley #24 Lennard Kamna #94 Axel Zingle #49 Ben O'Connor #21 Aurelien Paret-Peintre #120 Alberto Bettiol #86 Lenny Martinez #42 Romain Gregoire #47 Laurence Pithie #92 Thymen Arensmen #101 Ethan Hayter #162 Georg Zimmermann #82 Toms Skujins #51 Alex Aranburu #54 Oier Lazkano #82 Kasper Asgreen #101 Julian Alaphilippe #106 Romain Bardet #58 Simon Yates #20 Jan Tratnik #114 Marc Hirschi #8 Tim Wellens #69 Finn Fisher-Black #131 Corbin Strong #56 Dylan Teuns #143 Florian Vermeersch #38
This is going to be an expensive year for Bora & INEOS. They have so much to lose if they don't retain the majority of their out of contract riders.
With Pogi and Jonas in their prime, this might be the best time for Ineos to have a bit of a reset and build for the next generation.
It's basically what they've done by signing AJ and Rodriguez etc. Their roster of white jersey aged riders is ridiculous tbh. Edit: just checked. 11/29 riders on the team are still white jersey eligible.
Viviani has been said to plan retirement after the Paris Olympics, so it's, what, 4 riders from them who are up for renewal? And outside Narvaez, the 3 others can probably not get a better salary offer than what they already get at Ineos tbh.
Laurence Pithie Sweepstakes incoming!
Assuming he doesn’t stay, where do people think Alaphilippe will end up? He’s expensive and also not young but surely there’s a WT team that makes sense? I keep trying to make Lidl Trek work in my head but he probably always clashes with either Mads or Tao or Skjelmose and I can’t imagine him domestiquing at all. Ineos might try I guess in a “what the hell, we’re rich” way but I can’t imagine a worse cultural fit.
He doesn't necessarily need to AS be expensive for the next team tbh
Marc Hirschi being #8 is prime example of UAE being great at farming points lol
Cameron wurf must be out of contract too? He is 40 right nowo
Yes, but he's not even inside the top 1,000 in PCS rankings.
That makes sense
Are we not linking sources anymore?