Cycling Market - INEOS lose two leaders who break their contract; Ciccone exits Lidl; Visma make a bid for the future
Cycling
Netcompany INEOS has seen both Filippo Ganna and Sam Welsford end their contracts with the team prematurely to leave it, leaving the British team in a chaotic situation towards 2027. On this week's Cycling Market, Giulio Ciccone's departure from Lidl-Trek is also addressed; with two major teams making multiple moves in the market.
Since the previous instance, lots of renewals have taken place. Movistar have renewed with Pablo Castrillo and Natnael Tesfatsion in the long-run - the latter being an important move as a big UCI point scorer, and a rider that Team Visma | Lease a Bike looked to sign.
NSN Cycling Team have, this Tuesday, confirmed the renewals of Ethan Vernon, Krists Neilands, Floris van Tricht and Pier-André Côté, making up for a large part of their remaining positions to fill for the 2027 season.
British talent Leo Hayter, who made his return to professional cycling full-time this year, has signed a one-year extension with Modern Adventure Pro Cycling.
Recent contract extensions:
| Published | Rider | Team | Until |
| 2026-10-13 | SHARP Izzy | Handsling Alba Development Road Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-13 | UNEKEN Lonneke | VolkerWessels Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-13 | RIJNBEEK Maud | VolkerWessels Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-13 | BOOGAARD Maaike | VolkerWessels Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-13 | FAURA José Luis | Burgos Burpellet BH | 2028 |
| 2026-10-13 | NEILANDS Krists | NSN Cycling Team | 2029 |
| 2026-10-13 | VAN TRICHT Floris | NSN Cycling Team | 2028 |
| 2026-10-13 | VERNON Ethan | NSN Cycling Team | 2029 |
| 2026-10-13 | CÔTÉ Pier-André | NSN Cycling Team | 2028 |
| 2026-10-12 | VAN DAM Yonna | Citymesh - Customm Pro Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-12 | HAYTER Leo | Modern Adventure Pro Cycling | 2027 |
| 2026-10-12 | SØRENSEN Anders Vos | Team ColoQuick | 2027 |
| 2026-10-11 | LAURYSSEN Yorben | Tarteletto - Isorex | 2027 |
| 2026-10-11 | VAN OMBERGEN Lotte | Citymesh - Customm Pro Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-11 | BERNARD Floraine | Vendée Feminine RVC | 2027 |
| 2026-10-10 | VALENTIN Constance | Mayenne Monbana My Pie | 2027 |
| 2026-10-10 | COUTINHO Alice | Mayenne Monbana My Pie | 2027 |
| 2026-10-10 | TINDLEY Jo | Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-10 | CEBAK Amelia | Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | LOZOUET Léandre | CIC Pro Cycling Academy | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | HAMON Similien | CIC Pro Cycling Academy | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | SANLAVILLE Mathias | CIC Pro Cycling Academy | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | GUÉGAN Maël | CIC Pro Cycling Academy | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | SEKSE Jørgen | Team Drali - Repsol | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | BUSSON Léo | Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | BRAND Lucinda | Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions | 2028 |
| 2026-10-09 | KJELDSAND Karl Emil | Team Drali - Repsol | 2027 |
| 2026-10-09 | SCHYNS Léo | Color Code - Alu Center | 2027 |
| 2026-10-08 | GARNIER Noémie | Vendée Feminine RVC | 2027 |
| 2026-10-07 | BOU Joan | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 2027 |
| 2026-10-07 | NIJSSEN Annelies | Lotto Intermarché Ladies | 2027 |
| 2026-10-06 | GEGU Justine | Mayenne Monbana My Pie | 2028 |
| 2026-10-06 | CASTRILLO Pablo | Movistar Team | 2030 |
| 2026-10-06 | TESFATSION Natnael | Movistar Team | 2028 |
| 2026-10-06 | BJUNE Ulrik | Team Drali - Repsol | 2027 |
| 2026-10-06 | VESLUM Sebastian | Team Drali - Repsol | 2027 |
| 2026-10-05 | BLOEM Joren | Unibet Rose Rockets | 2027 |
| 2026-10-03 | BAUWENS Siebe | Tarteletto - Isorex | 2027 |
Movistar managed to renew with Natnael Tesfatsion despite the interest of Visma
INEOS lose two leaders, sign two climbers
Over the past 10 days there have been plenty transfer confirmations. Some had been rumoured for several months, but with the season coming to an end, are now being revealed in sequence. Netcompany INEOS are the headliners of this past week, with plenty riders moving in and out of the team.
The British squad have confirmed the signing of Harold Tejada and Markel Beloki, both riders that had been heavily linked to the team. The team has reinforced its climber block but in the space of week and a half, three of its riders departed. Magnus Sheffield has left for Uno-X Mobility where he becomes the team's first-ever American rider; whilst both Filippo Ganna and Sam Welsford have broken their ongoing contract.
The team is left without its last remaining sprinter - as Ben Turner is also leaving - whilst Ganna's departure leaves a massive hole for the team's aspirations in the time trials and classics. Welsford has signed with Team Jayco AlUla whilst Ganna has joined Lidl-Trek, who have signed several big names this winter.
Filippo Ganna ended his stint at Netcompany INEOS abruptly at the end of 2026
But the German team does also suffer a meaningful loss, with its own leader also ending his contract with the team. Giulio Ciccone has ended his time with Lidl three years before its initially agreed end - with him joining Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team on a three-year deal.
Pinarello has also confirmed the signing of Astana's Davide Ballerini who was also under the interest of Visma; and Ethan Hayter of Soudal - Quick-Step - the reigning British time trial national champion.
Team Jayco AlUla have not only signed the previously mentioned Welsford, but three more riders who fill in the spots for the team's 2027 roster: MBH Bank's Alessandro Fancellu; Ugo Fabries of UAE's development team; and Olyver Bleddyn - a track specialist who is now set for a full-time position in the World Tour.
Fabries is not the only rider from UAE's development team to then sign for a separate team, as the highly-regarded Mateo Ramirez has signed a deal with Movistar. The Spanish team has gained leverage on the market and has brought in a name with tons of potential for the future; whilst also bringing in Diego Uriarte from Equipo Kern Pharma this past week.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike has conducted an under-the-radar raid on Decathlon CMA CGM Team, signing Seff van Kerckhove into its development team. The 18-year old is highly regarded as one of the most talented junior riders in the field, signing a contract with the team all the way into 2030 - which could turn into a position in the elite team within a few years.
Primoz Roglic to stay in the peloton?
Primoz Roglic's future continues to be a hot debate, with the Slovenian set to make the decision over the upcoming few days or weeks. He has confirmed to have a contract offer on the table, most likely with Tudor Pro Cycling Team, but it yet to make the decision.
James Shaw of EF Education-EasyPost is, according to Daniel Benson, a potential new signing for Netcompany INEOS; whilst EF's Mikkel Honoré might soon join Team Jayco AlUla - as somewhat of a replacement for the departing Mauro Schmid.
Read also
XDS Astana Team have made several high-level moves this winter and, amongst those who might still join the team into 2027 is Equipo Kern Pharma's Urko Berrade - with the Spanish team potentially folding at the end of the season.
One unlikely player to have entered the fight with the big guns for some World Tour names is MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort. The Hungary-Italian team has climbed into ProTeam ranks this year and is fighting to be allowed to take Grand Tour wildcards next season. It's main leader Alessandro Fancellu is departing the team, but there are strong indications from Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio that the team might sign both Samuele Battistella of EF Education-EasyPost and Lorenzo Rota of Lotto-Intermarché.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- TT But he won by a minute so he could have cut down on some of it
Rafionain-Glas13-10-2026 - weight is measurable. power is measurable. So why didn't he prepare that way from the TDF if he wanted to beat Pogi and after Pogi wasn't going to be there, to win.abstractengineer13-10-2026
- I hope Thibau and Tibor don't do the sameRafionain-Glas13-10-2026
- Seixas is exactly what I would like Pogi to be mentally and in his statements. Both come across as shy and who don't talk much but with Seixas, you can see that he enjoys success, that it boosts his ego, unlike Pogačar who seems to feel increasingly uncomfortable the more he wins. He's won so many times, people are saying he's boring. The french media hate him for winning so much, the french cycling fans are booing him... etc. etc. But remember one thing, Seixas will never physically reach Pogi's level. He's excellent, but he isn't at that level nor will ever be. His talking to the media, his relationship with people is already at a high level.PogiSloFans13-10-2026
- Paul Seixas is now the second-best rider in the world.megasmacky13-10-2026
- When will they start dropping Pogi? Oh yeah, when Pogi reaches 40+ years, that's when young cyclists will start dropping him. But until then... eat your hearts out and cry. Pogi will remain the G.O.A.T. for years to come. Capish?PogiSloFans13-10-2026
- I figure he would have found out how to outsprint Paul and take the win, maybe. He's 28 now but I would say he's right at the peak of his powers. It was great race though, Paul showed me something different about himself.awp13-10-2026
- Slowly, very slowly... 5-7 yrs. ;)MajorPayne13-10-2026
- Up to this point: "It is just not yet at the level of Vingegaard and Pogacar." First Jonas, and then level of Tadej. Period!MajorPayne13-10-2026
- The sport has long had a divide between the more diesel-like riders and the more explosive riders. Where does Pogačar fit? His explosive attacks are followed by a high speed diesel climb and he's rarely been caught in the past 5 years (people can name the moments, it's so rare). Seixas is young and we have no idea where his body will end up on this spectrum (just like we didn't with Pogačar when he was 20 and being a diesel up the Vuelta mountains of 2019). Speculation is fun, being a fan while it unfolds is going to be more fun.RidesHills13-10-2026
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