World Tour team trying to tempt key Evenepoel domestique away from Red Bull? - Giulio Pellizzari reportedly target of surprise transfer move
Cycling
A World Tour team are rumoured to be interested in tempting Giulio Pellizzari away from Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe in a surprise transfer market move. The young Italian climber is a key domestique for Remco Evenepoel as well as a promising general classification leader with the German team, but could be on the move this winter.
The 22-year-old joined Red Bull in 2025 and has a contract with the team until the end of the 2029 season. According to Italian journalist Beppe Conti's latest transfer rumours on RadioCorsa, XDS Astana are interested in bringing the rider to their team over winter - in a move that would require a contract termination due to Pellizzari's long-term deal.
Pellizzari's past twelve months has seen him prove that he's capable of competing for general classification at Grand Tours as well as stage races, while also being used as a vital domestique for Evenepoel in key one-day races.
As things stand, Astana currently have 25 riders in their line-up for 2027 and four riders unconfirmed for next year. Even if all those riders renew, there is still one place left in their ranks for another transfer.
Giulio Pellizzari
Pellizzari among cycling's most promising climbers
Their big name signings this winter include TotalEnergies duo Anthony Turgis and Nicolas Breuillard as well as Lidl-Trek's Andrea Bagioli. They're also promoting Tommasso Dati from Continental Tour level and their development rider Matteo Scalco - who took an impressive top ten in the U23 men's road race at the World Championships.
After a breakout Giro d'Italia in 2024 that saw him come close to a stage win, he joined Red Bull that winter and continued to make forward strides last season - culminating in a sensational Vuelta a Espana as he left with a stage win and sixth place overall.
He started off 2026 with a general classification podium at Tirreno Adriatico, fourth at Milano Torino and won the Tour of the Alps as he set out his plans to challenge Jonas Vingegaard at the Giro. However, illness thwarted his overall campaign as his challenge faltered despite some promising showings in Italy.
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Pellizzari bounces back from Giro disappointment
His second half of the season saw him reclaim ground lost from the Giro. He finished second at the Tour of Slovenia behind teammate Florian Lipowitz before an extended break saw him return at Classic San Sebastián - where he put in a strong effort to support Evenepoel's history-making triumph.
He brought that form into the season's final weeks as he took stage wins at both the Vuelta a Burgos and Deutschland Tour, second at Memorial Parco Pantani and won the Giro del Toscana - Memorial Alfredo Martini.
Winding down the season, he played roles in the World and European Championships as well as Il Lombardia among other Italian Classics - notably working once again for Evenepoel in controlling the race on climbs.
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.
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