CYCLING MARKET | What is INEOS up to and who can they sign? Did Movistar get the 'steal' of the year?

INEOS Grenadiers have announced 1 transfer this winter, that of French champion Dorian Godon. The British team, looking to once again return to the top of the cycling world, has been rather quiet in this transfer period and it is not known which of the riders it's been linked with will actually be making the move. The British team takes the spotlight in this week's cycling market overview, where Cian Uijtdebroeks took the spotlight with his shock move towards... Movistar.

The big news of the week naturally was the signing of Cian Uijtdebroeks by Movistar Team from Team Visma | Lease a Bike. With a contract lasting until 2027, few would've expected for there to be any change, whilst this was also a decision made over the past month with mutual agreement between the Belgian and the Dutch team.

This comes as a result of Uijtdebroeks' rekindled ambitions as the 22-year old has seemingly made a successful return to the peloton after over a year of health issues that prevented him from performing consistently, and the lack of space within a Team Visma | Lease a Bike who has won two Grand Tours this season and has multiple quality riders behind an already mythical Jonas Vingegaard.

Alex Carera, agent of the former Tour de l'Avenir winner, has openly explained how a deal was reached: "Two weeks before the World Championships, we decided together to look for a new team, and I found one. No, the negotiations weren't difficult. The three parties agreed. Movistar believes Cian is one of the greatest talents, and Visma | Lease a Bike understands our position. An agreement was reached in a clean manner."

Uijtdebroeks in the meantime has even confirmed that he will want to target the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España next year, making his ambitions and stance within the Spanish team clear: "Next year I want to compete in the Giro and Vuelta again to aim for a good overall result. Movistar feels like a warm family that wants to support me. That's why I'm going to this family."

Furthermore Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale confirmed the signing of Gregor Mühlberger which had been initially reported by Wielerflits already quite a while back, with eyes on supporting compatriot Felix Gall and also the rising Paul Seixas within the team.

And EF Education-EasyPost has had a very interesting move, signing European junior cyclocross champion Mattia Agostinacchio, turned 18 only a few weeks ago, directly to the elite team. It is a clear bet on the Italian multi-disciplinary rider who has also impressed on the road this season.

Most of the big (and small) moves in the market are rather decided at this point, and there aren't many deals being made behind the scenes in the peloton. So this week we take a look at INEOS Grenadiers, one of the teams that has missed out on any big moves so far this transfer period, and one which is in the relative unknown for the time being with several riders.

One key aspect of this is Israel - Premier Tech's announcement this Monday, in which the team has confirmed that owner Sylvan Adams will step away from the team, and the Israel denomination and nationality will be removed. The team has been heavily linked to the signing of Biniam Girmay, who himself is likely departing from Intermarché - Wanty who is likely to merge with Lotto this winter.

However how this may play out with INEOS is because of Derek Gee, previously heavily hinted to join the team. The Canadian finished fourth at the Giro d'Italia and was set to race the Vuelta a España, but was cast aside from the team's plans after reportedly breaking his contract with the team. Besides not having mentions of the team on his social media, a statement issued on the 25th of August confirmed his intention to depart the team and that his contract was terminated. However, the Israeli team responded in a different statement: “Israel-Premier Tech firmly believes that Gee's contract is valid until 2028 and is engaged in continued discussions with Gee's representatives and the UCI to resolve the situation and uphold the respective contract.”

Gee's season effectively ended in June at the national champions, with him not racing for the Israeli team again, and also not taking part in the World Championships. However publicly, he has not signed with any team for 2026, and with Israel leaving the current project - to be potentially headlined by Premier Tech, a Canadian sponsor who will want Gee as an absolute priority - this may still change.

But Gee is only one piece of the puzzle. Namely, the team wants to increase its potential in the Grand Tours, and over the past few months its reported interest in Oscar Onley, currently signed by Team Picnic PostNL, has been notable. In the past being under contract did not stop riders from leaving the Dutch team, and it is also known that INEOS Grenadiers attempted to sign Remco Evenepoel whilst under contract.

There is also Kévin Vauquelin, who seems to be the rider most likely to join the British team. Arkéa - B&B Hotels seem to be heading towards an inevitable end, or at least the end of the team in its current form as a World Tour project. Riders were said to have been given the freedom to sign new contracts, and Vauquelin has been reported by multiple sources to have signed with INEOS. A logic move, taking into consideration too how TotalEnergies is now sponsoring the team, which actively makes the French market a more desirable one - Godon's transfer making it clear. Godon is the sole signing so far announced, with Denmark's Theodor Storm also linking up with the elite team next season after a year in the team's under-23 German partner Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank.

The team had been linked with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe sprinter Sam Welsford but Daniel Benson has reported that the Australian was not yet sent a contract, which may cast doubts in this transfer's viability. The team is lacking a pure sprinter, although slowly Ben Turner has put himself in this position within its ranks. Michal Kwiatkowski has been heavily linked to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and is likely to leave after almost a decade of partnership.

Which riders could the British team still sign for 2026? Some of its former stars such as Richard Carapaz or Wout Poels are still in the market; Veterans such as Michael Matthews, Arnaud Démare or the Irishman Sam Bennett could be potential sprinter choices if the Sam Welsford transfer doesn't materialize; Whilst strong classics specialists such as Tim Wellens, Matej Mohoric, Simone Velasco or even the Frenchmen Benoit Cosnefroy and Victor Lafay are still, on paper, in the market to some degree.

Not much has been announced over the past week, as at this point with two weeks left to the end of the cycling season, most teams have their plans set straight and not many are leaving big moves in the market left for the winter. XDS Astana Team have confirmed the extension of Lorenzo Fortunato who's had a stellar season with the KOM jersey at the Giro d'Italia, a fourth place at the Tour de Romandie and a second at the Vuelta a Burgos.

Lidl-Trek in the meantime has secured another household name in Carlos Verona who may be key to the support of Juan Ayuso in the next few years as the Spaniard made his move to the team.