Shimano caught up in the merger chaos "would be honoured to support any endeavours that they see us fitting their balance for"

If the ongoing rumours prove to be true surrounding a merger between two of pro cycling's biggest men's teams, Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-QuickStep, one of Specialized or Cervélo and SRAM or Shimano would be forced to lose a spot among the upper echelons of the WorldTour.   

Currently, Jumbo-Visma rides Cervélo bikes; a sponsorship deal that began on January 1, 2021, and was extended indefinitely later that same year. Toward the end of the 2022 season, the team swapped their agreement with Shimano, who supplied groupsets, wheels and sister-brand Lazer's helmets, in favour of what was widely believed to be a more financially lucrative deal with SRAM, who now supply groupsets. The wheel supply moved to Cervélo's sister brand Reserve, and Lazer continued to supply helmets.

Over at Soudal-QuickStep, Specialized provides the bikes, and has done so since 2006. Eight days before Jumbo announced the aforementioned 'indefinite' deal with Cervélo in 2021, Specialized committed to QuickStep until at least 2027 with Patrick Lefevere describing the brand as "impeccable as a partner". Specialized also supplies the brand with its Roval wheels and cockpits, as well as S-Works tyres, shoes and helmets. Groupsets are supplied directly by Shimano in another longstanding deal that began in 2016.  

Regarding the groupset supply, a Shimano spokesman told Cyclingnews that currently, he "knows nothing," about what agreements, if any, are being made but that the brand "would always be honoured to support any endeavours that they see us fitting their balance for," later adding "it's always great to see riders as the top levels compete on Shimano groupsets."