CYCLING MARKET | Ayuso free from UAE; Roglic and Girmay's future uncertain; Decathlon's millionaire market run on Visma

Over the past week and a half there has been a lot of movement on the cycling market. Several moves that had been agreed on over the past few months have only now been confirmed such as Decathlon AG2R's multitude of high-level signings, but we also have Juan Ayuso on the market after breaking his contract with UAE Team Emirates - XRG, rumours on Biniam Girmay's new team and even a potential move for Primoz Roglic.

The main story of the week is, of course, that of Juan Ayuso. Announced on the 1st of September, the Spaniard's five-year run with UAE Team Emirates - XRG will come to an end prematurely. Ayuso had a contract until 2028, but this was broken in order for him to be able to join a new team. The news were first broken by Daniel Benson and Ciro Scognamiglio, whilst AS' Daniel Miranda also indicated it shortly after the team made it official. Ayuso is likely to be signing with Lidl-Trek next year, although it is said that this has not yet been fully agreed on.

But this story didn't play out ammicably. Supposedly, the agreement was reached in June, weeks after Ayuso's failed Giro d'Italia attempt, in which Isaac del Toro's breakthrough provided the team with a new leader for the Grand Tours. The press release was issued on the first rest day of the Vuelta, whilst the Spaniard revealed this was only supposed to be made public after the end of the Vuelta.

"Our sporting project has always been focused on continuity, group harmony, and building a winning team," Mauro Gianetti said in the press release. "We believe that, in the best interests of both parties, this decision is the most consistent with the values that define our organization".

But the next day Ayuso was honest, and said his honest stance of the situation. He revealed that he was only told about the press release being issued on that day around 30 minutes beforehand and that he did not consent on the timing.

His let out particularly harsh words: "I don't understand why UAE issued the statement without warning. They want to damage my image. I've suffered one disrespect after another from the team's management. It's been a dictatorship".

Team manager Joxean Matxin, who always had his back, was forced to defend the team management as a result: "Obviously I don't share the opinion at all. I will never do anything negative against cyclists, I will always defend them. But as I said, if he has that opinion, it's respectable". This is a story in development, taking into consideration the 22-year old's current contractual situation. 

There have been plenty transfers announced since the last update, including several high-level transfer. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, which will have news sponsors and a larger budget into the 2026 season, definitely created the biggest story of the week. Transfers that had been previously agreed on have now been revealed, including millionaire signings.

From Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the team has added Olav Kooij as the new head sprinter (in what is said to be a €3 million salary, the biggest out of any sprinter in the peloton), as well as Tobias Lund Andresen and Cees Bol who are well capable sprinters themselves but also potential leadout men for their compatriot; Giro d'Italia stage winner Daan Hoole and Robbe Ghys who are also certain to play a role in the leadout but also the cobbled classics and finally Tiesj Benoot who will have a shot at leadership in the classics. These are big signings that build up a proper block for the team to aim for the sprints as a brand new powerhouse.

Visma lost two men to Decathlon but did reveal two new additions to the team, one of them being Timo Kielich, a full-time cyclocross specialist who has been showing enormous potential on the road and could become a new addition to the team's classics block; and the versatile Bruno Armirail who is likely envisioned to become a new super domestique for the team.

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team continued their run of World Tour signings, adding Brent Van Moer (Lotto) and Aimé de Gendt (Cofidis) to their lineup, continuing their classics-specific focus. They join the likes of Quinten Hermans, Xandro Meurisse, Chris Harper, Eddie Dunbar and Fred Wright to build another team that will be at the very top level in 2026.

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has signed Mattia Cattaneo, who had for months been rumoured to follow Remco Evenepoel as a quality domestique, but also under-23 Giro d'Italia winner Luke Tuckwell who has been promoted from the team's development ranks, boosting even further its potential in the mountains.

Italians Filippo Zana has joined Soudal - Quick-Step and Andrea Vendrame joined Team Jayco AlUla, whilst Briton Leo Hayter will make a return to professional cycling with the Polish Voster ATS Team, eyeing a return at the Chrono des Nations after year and a half away from the peloton due to mental health issues.

Israel - Premier Tech take most of the attention this week due to three riders that have been linked to transfers regarding it. Multiple sources, including Wielerflits initially, have indicated that Matthew Riccitello is making his way out of the team and into Decathlon, whilst the signing of young Italian climber Alessandro Pinarello is also given as a certain by Ciro Scognamiglio. However the big story is the potential signing of Biniam Girmaý, who has been linked both with Israel and UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

Whilst it was initially thought that the Israeli team may face serious difficulties signing top-level riders due to Israel's current geopolitical situation and the current events at the Vuelta a España, this could be put aside if the signing of the Eritrean is confirmed. Agent Alex Carera has confirmed in a post on social media that there has been confirmation of where Girmay will race next season, but it's not confirmed where that is. However, French newspaper Le Soir heavily links the former Tour de France green jersey to Israel - Premier Tech, which could come as an effect of the end of Chris Froome's contract with the team that frees up extra budget. As explained last week, this does depend on Intermarché - Wanty's current situation, as Girmay does hold a valid contract until 2028, but this may be broken due to the team's likely merger with Lotto.

Primoz Roglic has also been talked of over the past few days, due to BORA's extended list of leaders which now also include Remo Evenepoel. Such rumours must be taken with a grain of salt, it was Dutch pundit Thijs Zonneveld who argued that the Slovenian could be a target for Lidl-Trek. Whilst this is a very unlikely scenario, the veteran has previously been involved in a contract breaking to join the German team initially, and currently we are witnessing more and more frequently contract breakings which mean that no rider is ever certain of remaining in a team. Something that has potentially fueled this rumour is BORA's reluctance in sharing contract durations. Whilst the team has said that the Slovenian is signed until 2026, this was only said publicly a few months ago, year and a half after his signing, making it unclear what the initial contract duration was.

Aditionally, Daniel Benson has reported that former Vuelta a España red jersey and current Top10 holder Torstein Traeen could be on the way of Team Jayco AlUla and L'Équipe has rumoured that Decathlon may also sign Gregor Mühlberger from Movistar to link up which is compatriot Felix Gall in the mountainous races.