CYCLING MARKET | Is INEOS running out of time to do a big signing; American EF Education-EasyPost hits the market hard
Cycling
In the most recent update on the cycling market there are plenty teams that have hit the market hard including EF Education-EasyPost who have finally begun unveiling their transfers for the 2026 season, and Unibet Rose Rockets who have signed Victor Lafay in hopes of reaching the Tour de France next year. Also, a small update on INEOS Grenadiers' current situation and their desire to still sign a big figure for the upcoming season.
Signings
EF Education-EasyPost have struck the market at long last, revealing the signing of three riders: Luke Lamperti of Soudal - Quick-Step; Michael Leonard of INEOS Grenadiers and Matthias Schwarzbacher of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG development team. The trio will be adding firepower to the lineup in 2026 but above all the American team looks for potential new figures who can become big leaders in coming years.
The other team making huge moves was Unibet Tietema Rockets, who have signed Victor Lafay - who had been heavily considering retirement - not only making for a strong card to show for a Tour de France wildcard application, but also showing how attractive the team has become.
The French team may still sign more riders, but has signed not only Lafay but Irish champion and Hamburg Cyclassics winner Rory Townsend; but also a trio of youngsters in Colin Savioz, Eivind Broholt Fourner and Karsten Larsen Feldmann.
We've had two big sprinters making moves, former teammates Sam Bennett and Pascal Ackermann. The two sprinters, currently battling with the younger generations, have signed with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and Team Jayco AlUla respectively, where they won't be absolute leaders but will have opportunities to keep performing at the highest level.
Furthermore we've had Cofidis lose Jonathan Lastra to Euskaltel - Euskadi and Jesús Herrada to Burgos Berpellet BH, but sign Edoardo Zamperini from the Arkéa development team; XDS Astana signing Lotto's Arjen Lyvins and bringing its Russian sprinter Gleb Syritsa back into its World Tour setup.
INEOS Grenadiers
The British team, currently having only 22 riders under contract for 2026, continues to be in an open and rather odd position. It has five riders in its block who haven't been signed yet for the next season and there is a good chance at least some of them will be offered a new deal.
However the search for new leaders hasn't yielded many results, with the entry of Kévin Vauquelin being a strong but insufficient move for a team that wants to return to the top (or at least the battle) for the top of the sport.
The team had been rumoured to making a bid to sign Team Picnic PostNL's Oscar Onley, but as the winter flies by, the chances diminish further and further, and the contract buyout becomes less realistic. The British squad had also been linked to Sam Welsford but the talks didn't go far. However the Australian sprinter remains without a team for 2026 and could end up still being a valid option.
Derek Gee in the meantime, who back in August was said to be preparing to move into INEOS, is still in the dark. Not literally, as he recently got married to his partner and former pro Ruby West, but professionally speaking the Canadian national champion remains in a legal battle with Israel - Premier Tech - this despite both title sponsors leaving the team, and its future being quite uncertain at the time being.
Rumours
It has been heavily suggested, only with official confirmation remaining, that British talent Leo Hayter has found a contract for next year and will be racing for the American Modern Adventure Pro Cycling team. The team, led by former pro George Hincapie, is said to be in the process of obtaining a ProTeam license for its first season, and Hayter's presence will not only be interesting but also an opportunity for him to return to the level that he once promised.
Bahrain - Victorious' Torstein Traeen has also been linked to a move towards Uno-X Mobility, likely at this point, as reported by TV2. However, the Norwegian, who led the Vuelta a España for several days before racing into the final Top10, has also been linked to INEOS Grenadiers and Team Jayco AlUla who are looking to bolster their mountain lineups, as well as being offered a renewal at Bahrain.
Furthermore Unibet Rose Rockets have also been linked to Clément Venturini and Fernando Gaviria. The latter, currently part of Movistar, is not being renewed and most likely isn't finding a contract in the World Tour. However according to Beppe Conti, he's got interest from Unibet, Cofidis and Caja Rural - Seguros RGA.
Contract Extensions
After finally securing bank guarrantees which also secure their future for another year, Team Jayco AlUla immediately officialized the offer and renewal of Michael Matthews for another two seasons.
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.
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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)...
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