Cycling Market - UAE solidify Pogacar's block; INEOS in contract disputes; Visma 'lose' new rider to Pidcock's Pinarello

UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Netcompany INEOS, Team Visma | Lease a Bike; Lidl-Trek and Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team are all involved in important market moves. In the space of a week, most major teams in the world of cycling continue to try and bolster their teams into the 2027 season.

Since the previous instance of the cycling market, there have been a few teams making some moves in the market. Maintaining the team blocks is crucial at this time of year and UAE Team Emirates - XRG have announced a wave of renewals all at once.

Six riders, who were not previously under contract for the upcoming season, have been announced: Domen Novak, Felix Grossschartner, Vegard Stake Laengen, Rui Oliveira, Ivo Oliveira and Julius Johansen are all staying with the team. Novak and the Oliveira twins have all extended all the way into 2029, making this block of renewals not only important in the short-term, but also the team's long-term future.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, who are on a spree of signings this winter - with more certain to follow - have also conducted several renewals. Four riders, all of them key to the team's performance, have signed new days ranging from 2027 to 2029. Frederik Frizon, Walter Calzoni, Xabier Mikel Azparren and Marcel Cambrubí - with the latter, the Spanish national champion, signing all the way into 2029.

We have also seen Lidl-Trek extend their deal with trusted domestique Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier until 2028; whilst Lotto-Intermarché extended with Briton Joshua Giddings.

Plenty teams have also officially revealed the signing of riders over the past few week, with a few notable headliners. Alpecin-Premier Tech was certainly at the head of affairs. The team has signed Vincent van Hemelen from Flanders - Baloise; Guus van den Eijnden from the development team to the World Tour structure from 2028 onwards; new women's under-23 time trial World Champion Felicity Wilson-Haffenden; whilst it is also strongly rumoured that the new men's under-23 time trial World Champion Ryan Gal is also on his way to the team.

But not only has the team confirmed these signings, they have also given the green card for the announcement of their leader Kaden Groves' departure. The Australian's move away from the team was virtually confirmed for several months already, with the team also having had signed new sprinters to fill in the role.

Groves has signed with Tudor Pro Cycling Team, who have also announced the signing of Nico Denz from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. A strong block of riders for the sprints, spring classics and breakaways.

Igor Arrieta has made his move from UAE Team Emirates - XRG to Lidl-Trek; Cedric Beullens has moved from Lotto-Intermarché alongside his current teammate Lennert van Eetvelt, whilst Movistar have also announced the signing of two Spanish ProTeam talents: Hugo de la Calle and Iván Cobo.

Lots of new moves have been rumoured this past week. Daniel Benson, Ciro Scognamiglio, Wielerflits, Het Nieuwsblad and Het Laatste Nieuws are often the source of such information.

Netcompany INEOS have been a central figure. Benson reported that after Victor Langellotti, the team may have its second rider breaking his contract within the space of only a few months. Sam Welsford, who signed a two-year deal with the British team last winter, may join Team Jayco AlUla from next year onwards. With the departure of Ben Turner previously confirmed, the team could be left without a sprinter once again.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the team is rumoured to be intensifying its efforts to also sign a rider currently under contract. Both Richard Carapaz and Mattias Skjelmose, currently signed to EF Education-EasyPost and Lidl-Trek, have been heavily linked to break their contract to join INEOS. But Javier Romo of Movistar might be next in line, despite having a deal with the Spanish team all the way into 2028 as of today.

Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, one of the market's newest major players, have also seemingly not run shallow on their budget to sign new riders. Despite eight high-level moves already, two more have emerged on the radar.

One is Davide Ballerini. The XDS Astana Team rider, winner of a Giro d'Italia stage this year, had been heavily linked to Team Visma | Lease a Bike over the past few weeks. The Dutch team may lose what would be one of their major market moves, and Pinarello seems increasingly likely to swoop in and sign the classics specialist.

But another Italian may join the team. Reports suggest Giulio Ciccone, signed under Lidl-Trek all the way into 2029, may leave the team this winter. Whilst UAE Team Emirates - XRG had previously been linked to the Italian, it appears two teams are hot on his case: Pinarello and Tudor Pro Cycling Team.

Both Swiss ProTeams are looking to boost their lineups into 2027 in order to continue securing wildcards, a future World Tour promotion and to bring in a top rider into their block. Several teams are interested in Ciccone who appears to be one of the new hottest figures in the whole transfer market.