The cycling transfer market heats up: key movements and surprises

There are still several months left in the 2025 season, but teams are already working hard to shape their squads for 2026. A market in which movements are already emerging, although it is often difficult to discern between how much is unfounded rumor and how much is real, as in the case of the transfer of Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, which a few days ago was considered a done deal and the Belgian cyclist himself, with a noticeable tone of anger, denied it on his social networks.

Teams are starting to strengthen for 2026

If last year we had the Tom Pidcock soap opera, this end of 2025 threatens to repeat itself with Remco Evenepoel as the protagonist. Practically everyone takes for granted that Remco will join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe from next season, despite still having a year left on his contract with Soudal-QuickStep. It has been said that it was a done deal and the official announcement would come during the Tour de France, however, not only has it not been formalized yet, but it was quickly denied by the Belgian cyclist.

A move that, if it finally happens, could have unexpected consequences. After the Tour de France, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has a rising star in Florian Lipowitz. At the same time, Primoz Roglic's contract with the German team ends at the conclusion of the season, which, at 35 years old, could mean the departure of the Slovenian, a piece that will undoubtedly be highly sought after in a cycling market where acquiring the services of a top-level star has become quite difficult.

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On the other hand, for Soudal-QuickStep, not having Remco Evenepoel could almost be a relief from the point of view that it exempts them from the need to have a team of guarantees for the Grand Tours. In fact, rumors, with names like Stuyven or Kung, already point to the restructuring of the team to regain its essence as a squad focused on the classics.

Another team that has started its renewal with a focus on the classics is Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, which, with the economic injection that the arrival of CMA CGM to sponsorship has meant, will incorporate Olav Kooij and, apparently, is also in talks with Tiesj Benoot. However, the medium-term goal of the reinforced French team aims ambitiously towards the Tour de France, for which they are also negotiating, after his brilliant performance in the recently concluded edition of this race, with Kevin Vauquelin.

Talking about French teams, Arkéa could become an important source of cyclists for the market. Being practically relegated from the World Tour and, for the moment, without a sponsor guaranteeing the continuity of the structure, departures like those of the mentioned Vauquelin, Raúl García Pierna, or Cristian Rodríguez become very interesting pieces. A troubled river in which it seems that Movistar is fishing, continuing to sow for the future with the incorporation of young talent and, as different rumors suggest, they would be casting their line for both García Pierna and Cristian Rodríguez.

Also, the rumored merger between Lotto and Intermarché is likely to leave a good number of cyclists in the market, although in this case, names have not yet been revealed.

In any case, as we insist every year, many of these movements are nothing more than assumptions and rumors that spread like wildfire in the cycling world. Until they are confirmed with the official announcement of the different signings, nothing can be assured, although this exercise of divination is part of the gossip that accompanies this and other sports.