The list thins down, but over 20 former World Tour riders remain without a contract for 2026

It is worrying times for plenty former World Tour riders who have now entered 2026 and are officially without a contract. The list is not small either, as over 20 of them still have not officially retired but do not have a team for the time being. Adding to that, outside the World Tour, the likes of Derek Gee and Chris Froome for example do not yet know what is to be of their future. 

Out of the 24 riders, it can be given as a certain that Juri Hollmann will remain in Alpecin-Deceuninck as a coach and staff member, but aside from that news are vague on the rest. Samuel Gaze is certain to continue his focus on mountain biking whilst likely departing the Belgian team. 

The list includes Oier Lazkano who was provisionally suspended by the UCI, however is not forbidden from being signed by other teams. Movistar has both Ruben Guerreiro and Antonio Pedrero in positions of doubt on whether their careers continue; EF Education-EasyPost have said nothing on Hugh Carthy whilst the former Vuelta podium finisher is also in silence; Visma's Julien Vermote wasn't able to complete his goal of finding a new team at the tme being and the list also includes riders who have ultimately found themselves in trouble after the Lotto-Intermarché merger such as Dion Smith, Gijs van Hoecke and Kevin Colleoni.

On the ProTeam side things remain rather the same with no big moves announced recently. Derek Gee continues to not have a contract publicly, although in December it was rumoured that he was staying with Lidl-Trek during their training camp and this week it was also reported that it may be announced this coming week. Chris Froome remains on this list as he enters 2026 not having yet announced his retirement from the sport.