Ukrainian climber Mark Padun certain to take a step down and join Team Corratec - Selle Italia

Team Corratec - Selle Italia have been reinforcing themselves significantly into the 2024 season and another signing seems to be only a matter of time. Mark Padun will end his contract with EF Education-EasyPost and join the team very soon, according to a report.

This was claimed by Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio, who frequently reveals transfers talks behind closed doors. The Italian team is looking to boost it's lineup and increase chances of continuing to be present at the Giro d'Italia, and have signed a treble of World Tour sprinters in Jakub Mareczko, Niccolò Bonifazio and Kristian Sbaragli. It is a big increase in quality for the Italian team that certainly had a boost in it's budget.

Scognamiglio tells now that Mark Padun's transfer to the 2022-created team is already a done deal, and the team is only waiting to officially announce it. This comes as a surprise taking into consideration the 27-year old still has a contract running into 2024 with the American team, but this will seemingly come to an end with immediate effect.

Padun's transfer comes as another investment into Ukrainian riders. Corratec signed Andrii Ponomar this fall with immediate effect coming from Arkéa Samsic, and only days ago they confirmed the signing of 23-year old Kyrylo Tsarenko. Padun this year has finished fourth in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, but elsewhere has not shown much form.