ANALYSIS: Take a look at these transfer hits and misses from recent years including Wout van Aert and Chris Froome

Tom Pidcock’s move over the winter from the INEOS Grenadiers to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has been one of the most talked-about aspects of the off-season. And for good reason, considering the multi-talented British superstar was supposedly the man to take over INEOS for the next decade, but that relationship unravelled spectacularly in front of our eyes over the last two seasons.

Now, just over a month into his debut season with his new team, Pidcock has already won his first race at the AlUla Tour, firmly establishing himself at the forefront of the peloton once again. His transfer represents a high-risk, high-reward decision that so far appears to be paying off spectacularly, of course we will have to wait to see how things go but for now the signs suggest that Pidcock made the right move.

On that note, lets take a look at two successful transfers from recent years, and two that did not live up to expectations.

Although recent headlines surrounding Wout van Aert’s legal battle with his former team cast a shadow over his 2018 exit from Sniper Cycling BVBA, there is no denying that his transfer to Jumbo-Visma (now Team Visma | Lease a Bike) has been one of the most successful in modern cycling history. Since joining the team in 2019, Van Aert has won nine Tour de France stages, the green jersey in 2022, three Vuelta a Espana stages, Milano-Sanremo in 2020, Strade Bianche in 2020, Amstel Gold Race in 2021, and many other classics. His versatility, from bunch sprints to mountain stages and time trials, has made him an invaluable asset to the team.

One of his most iconic moments came during the 2021 Tour de France, when he won Stage 11 by attacking on the last climb of Mont Ventoux, over 30 kilometres from the finish. Van Aert described it as "the best victory of my career." He followed it up by winning Stage 20, a 30 kilometre individual time trial, and then capped off the race with victory on the Champs-Élysées in Stage 21. His dominance across a huge range of courses was historic, and he became the first rider to win a mountain stage, a time trial, and a bunch sprint in the same Tour since Bernard Hinault in 1979.

Van Aert has also been crucial in supporting Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France victories in 2022 and 2023, proving to be one of the most complete riders in the peloton. His transfer to Visma transformed him from a cyclocross star into one of the most dominant and popular road racers of his generation, and there’s still more chapter for van Aert to write.

Another recent transfer that appears to be paying off is Primoz Roglic’s move from Visma to Red Bull – BORA - hansgrohe in 2024. After an illustrious stint with Visma that saw him win the Vuelta a Espana three times, the Giro d'Italia in 2023, and numerous prestigious one-week stage races, Roglic found himself in a difficult position within the team, as Jonas Vingegaard usurped the Slovenian and took over leadership duties at the Tour de France.

Seeking a fresh start, Roglic joined BORA - hansgrohe as their undisputed Grand Tour leader. Early signs suggest the move was the right one, with Roglic already making a strong impression in 2024 by winning the Vuelta a Espana for a fourth time and the Dauphine. Yes, Roglic may still be cursed at the Tour de France after crashing out yet again in 2024, but there’s no denying that the Slovenian got off to a good start with his new team. With a team fully committed to his ambitions, many expect him to challenge for another Grand Tour victory in 2025, proving that even for a rider at his level and his age, the right transfer can reignite a career.

Few transfers in recent years have gone as badly as Chris Froome’s move from Team Sky (later INEOS Grenadiers) to Israel-Premier Tech in 2021, in fact this is one of the worst transfers of all time. At his peak, Froome was the most brilliant stage racer of his era, winning four Tour de France titles, two Vuelta a Espana titles, and the 2018 Giro d’Italia. After his 2018 Giro win, he made history as he held all three grand tour titles simultaneously. However, a horrific crash in 2019 left him with multiple fractures, and by the time he signed with Israel-Premier Tech, he was a shadow of his former self.

Despite the team’s hopes of reviving his career, Froome has been unable to return to top form. Since joining, he has managed just one top-10 finish in a WorldTour race and has struggled to keep pace in Grand Tours. The move has been widely regarded as one of the worst transfers in cycling history, and it feels like an eternity since we’ve seen Froome remotely close to his best. In fact, come to think of it, the last time we saw a spark of the real Froome was when he was defeated by Pidcock on Alpe d’Huez back in 2022, which turned out to be the high point of Pidcock’s time with INEOS.

Another high-profile move that ultimately failed to deliver was Nairo Quintana’s transfer from Movistar Team to Arkéa-Samsic in 2020. Once regarded as one of the best climbers in the world, Quintana had won the 2014 Giro d’Italia and the 2016 Vuelta a Espana, and finished on the podium at the Tour de France on multiple occasions. However, his initial seven year spell at Movistar became increasingly complicated, with leadership tensions and tactical struggles holding him back.

Moving to Arkéa-Samsic was supposed to provide Quintana with full team leadership and a renewed shot at Tour de France success. However, while he initially showed promising form, including stage wins in warm up races, his performances in Grand Tours declined significantly. Worse still, his tenure ended in controversy when he was disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France due to banned tramadol use, leaving a stain on his legacy and leading to Arkéa-Samsic parting ways with him.

Transfers in cycling can make or break careers, and as Tom Pidcock’s early success with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team shows, a well-judged move can transform a rider’s trajectory. Wout van Aert and Primoz Roglic (as well as many others) provide modern examples of transfers that elevated careers to new heights or revived stalling careers. Meanwhile, the struggles of Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana highlight the risks involved in making a big move, especially if the team dynamics don’t suit the rider.

While it is still early days, Pidcock’s transfer appears to be a move in the right direction, especially if his early-season form is anything to go by. Do you think Pidcock has made the right choice? And what are some of the other transfers that have been make or break moments in riders careers before?