WorldTour Pro-Cycling Transfers Round-Up
Team Ineos Transfers
Team Ineos will be adding Giro winner Richard Carapaz from Movistar to add to its existing three Grand Tour winner lineup. It’s only fitting that the team now has more GC winners than there are Grand Tours in the year.
Movistar Transfers
Movistar has had a turbulent year. They’ve had a hell of a Vuelta a Espana, but throughout the year they’ve suffered from having too many leaders and too little unity.
Nairo Quintana will be leaving Movistar for ProConti outfit Arkéa Samsic, Winner Anacona will be joining him there. And, as we just discussed, Carapaz is off to Ineos, a big loss for Movistar. Further disruption comes from Mikel Landa who is off to Bahrain-Merida.
Who’s left with Movistar? 39-year-old World Champion Alejandro Valverde as of now is the team’s default GC rider. His one and only Grand Tour win was in 2009. Movistar does have five new riders incoming, 24-year-old Enric Mas is likely their new GC hope.
Jumbo-Visma Transfers
Jumbo-Visma has had a great year and appears ready to continue the trend in 2020. First, the addition of Tom Dumoulin to the roster in addition to GC star Primoz Roglic means Jumbo-Visma has more than one option for next year’s Grand Tours. Both are talented time-triallists and proven GC riders, Dumoulin a winner at the Giro d’Italia and Roglic seems to be in contention in every race. Don’t forget 2019 Tour de France podium finisher Steven Kruijswijk either.
Team Sunweb Transfers
As you guessed, the big news for Sunweb is Dumoulin’s departure. Not surprising as relations between Dumoulin and Team Sunweb have been less than healthy for awhile. Sunweb is bringing in six new riders for 2020, including Classics specialist Tiesj Benoot from Lotto-Soudal.
Trek-Segafredo Transfers
Trek-Segafredo is bringing in Vincenzo Nibali as its main GC contender for 2020. Nibali is an unquestionable talent, but he’ll be 35-years-old next year and last won a Grand Tour in 2016. I wouldn’t write him off though, he’s been on the podium three times since.
Bahrain Merida Transfers
The Bahrain-Merida squad grabbed Mikel Landa, question is, can he fill the hole Nibali left behind?
Lotto Soudal Transfers
Lotto Soudal’s rumored departures look bad for the squad, with as many as 10 riders on the list. Tiesj Benoot leaving for Sunweb is a big loss as is the loss of Hour Record holder Victor Campenaerts, in terms of team toxicity though the later might belong in the win column.
The good news is that John Degenkolb is inbound and the recent recruitment of Philippe Gilbert is big news as well. Sunweb is poised for a strong go at the 2020 Spring Classics.
Deceuninck-QuickStep Transfers
Deceuninck-QuickStep loses Gilbert to Lotto Soudal, Mas to Movistar and Elia Viviani to Cofidis.
