CYCLING MARKET - UAE retain one of their key leaders but seem to lose major talent to... Movistar

This week's Cycling Market features UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the very top op the list, with the team renewing with Jhonatan Narváez but reportedly losing one of his compatriots to Movistar.

You can read the previous instance of the Cycling Market. There has been a slight slowing within the list of rumours, however with the riders assembling in Barcelona next week for the Tour de France's Grand Depart, this should change.

At the Tour, agents gather en masse to discuss the future of their riders with team managers from all 23 teams present at the race - and often with the riders themselves.

This means there will be an inevitable escalation of the discourse. But for the time being, a few moves that solidify a few of the top teams' outlooks for the 2027 season.

Over the past week there have been some meaningful renewals. UAE Team Emirates - XRG is the most notable case, but not the only one. Some teams have confirmed renewals looking towards their future.

Groupama - FDJ United have extended the contract of Josh Kench all the way until 2029, after a Giro d'Italia where the New Zealander proved to be one of the team's brightest prospects. Fellow French team Cofidis renewed with Sylvain Moniquet.

Uno-X Mobility has put out a strong statement against the wealthier teams, maintaining its leader in the mountains Tobias Halland Johannessen and also his twin brother Anders - both set to take part in the upcoming Tour de France. This is a major step in the team's long-term maintenance at World Tour level.

But most notably, UAE Team Emirates - XRG renewed with Jhonatan Narváez. The Ecuadorian rider had a spring in which his contract was up in the air, and his future heavily linked with Netcompany INEOS.

However following a Giro d'Italia and Tour de Suisse in which he was given a lot of freedom, leadership and even support from Tadej Pogacar, the confidence proved to be mutual. A three-year extension is a massive step in assuring the team's maintenance at the top of the sport.

Over on the women's peloton there have also been some meaningful moves with AG Insurance - Soudal Team extending the contract of Shari Bossuyt and CANYON//SRAM extending with Polish time trialist Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka.

In the rumour mill a few interesting stories have been brewing over the past week. And UAE is in the center of the main one. Mateo Ramírez of the team's under-23 structure could be leaving the team towards Movistar.

This is a big deal. The Ecuadorian, currently 20, was sixth at last year's Tour de l'Avenir and after signing with the team only three weeks ago, he was immediately cast for a leadership position at the under-23 Giro d'Italia. His performances were remarkable, with a second place in the overall classification only behind the world champion Lorenzo Finn. A top climber in development without a doubt.

But a more favourable offer might have already come from Movistar. According to Daniel Benson, a move is highly likely, and would cement the Spanish team's leverage in a market where the teams with the big dollars are rarely defeated in these terms. With the team's quantity and quality of South American talent and staff, Ramírez could find a perfect environment to develop and the freedom to be a leader.

Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio has reported that Team Polti VisitMalta rider Ludovico Crescioli could be heading to Grouapama - FDJ. The Italian rider, much like Davide Piganzoli, has developed to be the team's new head climber and was in the spotlight at the recent Giro d'Italia - finishing seventh on the day Afonso Eulálio jumped into the race lead, and quite visibly showing his climbing abilities and consistency by finishing 12th in the final summit finish of the race in Piancavallo, crossing the line together with names such as Wout Poels, Jan Hirt and Mathys Rondel.

From Belgium we also see more bad news for Lotto-Intermarché - who is losing Arnaud de Lie, Lennert van Eetvelt and Georg Zimmermann. Another of the team's main figures, Cedric Beullens, has reportedly attracted major interest. This has been confirmed by Het Laatste Nieuws.

The 29-year old has been part of the World Tour structure since 2022 and has been a quality classics rider as well as leadout man for De Lie before. Highly regarded in the market, he has gathered interest from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and NSN Cycling Team; where he should remain in a similar role but with a different structure.