Rival teams show great interest in Jordi Meeus seems likely to part ways with Red Bull at the end of this season

We're reaching the culmination of the first major racing block in 2026 but behind the scenes, rider agents have been in permanency since the start of this year, and now first big transfer rumours begin to surface as there's still more than three months until the official transfer window opens. But teams looking to add significant amount of firepower to their 2027 roster must be already finishing the new deals. After all, if you hesitate too long, the desired star rider may sign elsewhere in the meantime.

The teams looking to recruit a prominent sprinter will find several options on the market but only one has a Champs-Élysées triumph in their palmares - Jordi Meeus.

It has to be said that Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe is reluctant to communicating the actual contract lengths of their riders (for example Remco Evenepoel is said to have a deal running through 2028, even though it has never been communicated), but that Meeus is in his contract year after six seasons at the German team appears to be true.

WielerFlits report that, despite already having three sprinters with Tim Merlier, Paul Magnier and Alberto Dainese contracted for 2027, Soudal - Quick-Step have expressed interest in the Belgian sprinter's services. However HLN believe that Alpecin-Premier Tech is a team which could become Meeus' new destination as their second sprinter Kaden Groves could be on the way out. Then it's easy to see Meeus as a one-for-one replacement with added sponsor value for the Belgian team.

There is a rather good match between Meeus - who doesn't require a dedicated sprint train to deliver results & offers added value as a back-up leader for cobbled classics - and Red Bull at the moment, however there is another rider on the market who seems almost destined to wear the beverage company's logo on his chest; Arnaud De Lie.

Nicknamed "The Bull from Lescheret", it's only natural were his career paths to cross with Ralph Denk's formation, and it surfaces that the German team is indeed pushing for the signature of De Lie.

Speaking of Groves, his future remains open at the moment, although a contract extension at Alpecin-Premier Tech seems to be an option, in particular if Meeus were to head to another house.