INEOS prepare to make big transfer market move - French climber close to signing three-year deal to bolster Grand Tour and stage race roster
Cycling
Netcompany Ineos is close to signing Clément Champoussin from XDS Astana, one of several moves the British team is preparing to strengthen its roster for the coming seasons. The French climber could become one of the new pieces in a project taking shape with significant additions and renewals.
The information comes from transfer specialist journalist Daniel Benson, who reports that Netcompany Ineos has tabled a three-year offer for Champoussin. According to this report, negotiations are advanced and, if the deal is finalized, the contract could be signed in the coming weeks.
Champoussin, 28, would bring experience and climbing strength to a team aiming to bolster its options both at the Grand Tours and in stage races. The Frenchman, currently with XDS Astana, thus emerges as one of the next moves on the market.
Netcompany Ineos has also decided to line up at the Czech Tour with a stronger roster than initially planned. According to Benson, the aim could be to impress a potential new sponsor.
The British squad has selected a line-up including several riders earmarked for the upcoming Vuelta a España, among them AJ August, Jack Haig, and Ben Turner.
In addition, Oscar Onley, Josh Tarling, and Carlos Rodríguez are also candidates for the team’s Vuelta selection. The Czech Tour commitment therefore appears driven not only by sporting goals, but also by a forward-looking strategy for the project.
Major moves for 2027
Champoussin’s potential signing would not be the only move by Netcompany Ineos. The British structure already has several additions lined up for next season.
The incoming riders would include:
| Rider | Current team |
| Michael Valgren | EF Education-EasyPost |
| Joseph Blackmore | NSN Cycling Team |
| Markel Beloki | EF Education-EasyPost |
| Harold Tejada | XDS Astana |
| Benjamín Noval | MMR Academy |
| Clément Champoussin* | XDS Astana |
* Signing pending confirmation and signature.
The arrival of Blackmore, one of the peloton’s brightest young prospects, and the addition of experienced riders such as Valgren and Tejada deepen a squad heading for a significant refresh.
Markel Beloki, INEOS signing for 2027
Continuity also assured
Netcompany Ineos will not limit itself to new signings. The team also plans to retain several of its current key pieces.
According to Daniel Benson, Sam Watson, Connor Swift, Brandon Smith Rivera, Tobias Foss, Egan Bernal, and Axel Laurance will remain in the structure.
In this way, the British project blends youth, experience, and continuity, with Champoussin as a piece that could complete a particularly interesting block for stage races.
If the deal with the Frenchman is confirmed, Netcompany Ineos would add another climber to a roster undergoing a deep transformation, with several signings already in motion and a clear focus on strengthening its mountain options and Grand Tour ambitions.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Perhaps he has what Mark Cavendish had, the Epstein-Barr Virus. It caused him severe and unexplained chronic fatigue. I hope he gets better.
parisbound0001-11-2026 - How can medical staff act like that? pretty disgraceful! the guys down and they're near seeing him off ;/
leedorney01-11-2026 - I think that this is exactly what Jonas needs at this point in his career. It's something that could revive his passion for winning, and he's physically more than capable of winning one of those races as well.
santiagobenites01-11-2026 - What a great race! Couldn't look away. Can't wait for the euros
Rafionain-Glas01-11-2026 - I think other competitors also had great Tours, so it wasn't that Ferrand-Prévot necessarily failed in some way - it's more likely that the other top riders lifted their game and maybe also a bit of luck with no crashes, etc. It's the Tour de France after all. It's not meant to be easy to defend your title (the few exceptions like Pogacar prove the rule).Pogboom01-11-2026
- maybe we should put our cv at the end of each comment post ... same rights for all of us!Ketterechts01-11-2026
- hahah literally all it is. Glad im not the only one noticing, essentially this is just a blog as it is now. Run buy boys from their bedroom hehe Their very subjective aswell, people on twitter even said their pure visma fanboys, if you listen to Ruben silva guy pre TDF this year all he said turned out to be wrong and constantly fail to realize visma isnt where they was before roster wice or means to contest even RBH or Lidl anymore, ,very biased ppl and when you run ''news articles that way its problematic..miguel01-11-2026
- The new joke of the year in 2027: "If both guys (Pogi and Seixas) finish upright on their bikes and both don't get sick for some reason, I think Paul will fight Tadej to the end and will possibly beat him in 2027 at the Tour, yes, I just said that." ... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...PogiSloFans01-11-2026
- Cutting his suit up and getting him to sign it while quite seriously injured is absolutely ghoulishwrsty01-11-2026
- 24 years old?Ketterechts01-11-2026
Loading
4 Comments