The clock is ready to strike midnight on this year’s cycling transfer window. With ink drying on the final transfers, there have been around 200 WorldTour contract renewals or signings penned ahead of the 2026 season, with headline names including Olav Kooij, Remco Evenepoel and Alison Jackson.
Some of those 200 will be looking for increased leadership duties, new opportunities, a chance to practice a new language, or just to add a couple of extra digits to their savings account.
Here we’ll trundle through this year’s transfers and contract extensions in the hope of playing pro cycling matchmaker. We’ll identify some of the transfers that we wish had happened in the 2025/2026 transfer window. For this, we’ll only include riders who have been up for sale or contract renewal this year. We’re no lawyers, so we’ll be steering well clear of any mid-contract moves.
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10. Michael Matthews to Ineos Grenadiers
Sprint Cycling
News came last week that Australian sprinter Michael Matthews will stay at Jayco-AlUla until the conclusion of 2027. He’s been on good terms with the team, joining in 2013 and only leaving for a brief stint with Team Sunweb (now Picnic-PostNL) in the late 2010s. While he’s played the safe game and chosen to stick with Jayco, I could’ve seen a winning formula for him at Ineos Grenadiers, who are in dire need of a serial winner like him.
Yes, he’s 35, but Matthews is guaranteed a win at some point. In fact, he’s won every year bar one since 2010. For a team like Ineos, this consistency would be much appreciated.
Apparently, the team are hungry to bring on a sprinter. They reached out to Olav Kooij and Sam Welsford this year, and they took on an ageing Caleb Ewan last winter. In a world where versatile sprinters score more UCI points, Matthews should have been a key target for Ineos in 2026 – perhaps more so than Arkéa casualty Embret Svestad-Bårdseng. Perhaps his age detracted Ineos’s scouts, who’ve backed youth in recent years.
9. Ruby Roseman-Gannon to EF Education-Oatly
GodingImages
The women’s transfer market has been rather quiet this year. Otherwise, it’s been fairly logical – apart from Alison Jackson’s shock move to St Michel-Home Preference-Auber93. That’s left me with only one name I could have envisioned elsewhere.
Rise up, Ruby Roseman-Gannon. The reigning Australian champion has shone in one-day races in recent years, namely at the World Championships. This leads me to believe that she’s a little neglected within the Liv-AlUla-Jayco camp. At 27, she’s entering her sporting prime, but she’s been pushed out of the frame among a Jayco squad that has lacked killer one-day results over the past two years.
Instead of withering away in the purple haze at Jayco, I suggest she ups sticks and pulls on the pink jersey of EF, joining their strong Classics contingent. In my eyes, the Aussie would fit in perfectly among the likes of Noemi Rüegg, Cédrine Kerbaol and newly crowned world champ Madeleine Vallières. The squad have clear momentum in one-day races, and it feels a shame for Roseman-Gannon to miss out on this.
Sadly for me, these dreams will have to be put on pause. Roseman-Gannon has penned a new deal with her Australian home until the end of 2027.
8. Richard Carapaz to Movistar
Luca Bettini/Getty Images
Richard Carapaz is expected to sign a contract renewal with EF Education-EasyPost. It’s been kept under wraps for some time, but his Giro performance earlier this year may have guaranteed his slot at the American squad for three more seasons.
While his move to EF has been somewhat successful, culminating in a Tour stage, the polka-dot jersey and a podium at the Giro, Carapaz has lost his consistency when it comes to stage races.
If he hadn’t already sewn up a contract with boss Jonathan Vaughters, I would have championed a move to Movistar. Yes, he left on bumpy terms, citing money as a core incentive for his move to Inoes back in 2020. However, times have changed, and Movistar are in need of another leader to bring them back to their heyday of the late 2010s.
Carapaz could be that guy, and with the Spanish language aspect, it’s a natural fit. It’s not like Movistar are running low on mountain support, and with Mas pencilled in for late-season races, the door would have been open for Giro and Tour leadership. In that case, it’s a missed opportunity to turn back the clock.
7. Ilan Van Wilder to Lotto-Intermarché
Xavier Pereyron
Ilan Van Wilder was linked to several teams this year. Ineos emerged as a frontrunner early in the year, but, as has become customary for Brailsford’s squad, they were pipped in the bidding process by Red Bull. The latter was a convincing lead, with the Belgian following his doppelgänger and former team leader Remco Evenepoel, with whom he’s worked closely over the past few seasons. Nevertheless, Van Wilder has chosen to remain at Soudal-QuickStep, leading them into the post-Remco age.
It’s a boring choice in my eyes. The team have been open about hoping to wind down their GC ambitions, yet Van Wilder, a climber and well-proven tester against the clock, has opted to spearhead this pack of headless chickens in the mountains.
Instead, I think Van Wilder would have been much better suited to a squad like Red Bull or Ineos. However, our web editor Will has convinced me that Van Wilder’s future would have been bright at Lotto-Intermarché. I’m with him on this. The Belgian’s team could rally around Van Wilder, with hopefuls like Lennart Van Eetvelt and the young star Jarno Widar there for support. Lotto would also appreciate the extra UCI points as well, with Van Wilder capable of a couple of stage race top tens.
It’s been a while since Lotto have had a real world-class leader. Van Wilder felt like an obvious choice to fill this role.
6. Filippo Zana to Visma-Lease a Bike
Tour of Slovenia/Sportida
Filippo Zana broke through Italy’s ProTeam scene in 2022 when he became the national champion, triggering a well-earned transfer to Jayco-AlUla. Less than a year later, he added a Giro stage victory and a Tour of Slovenia title to his name. Strong Grand Tour performances would follow in 2024, but he’s lost his spark a little in 2025.
Regardless, he was in the crosshairs of Ineos Grenadiers and Soudal-QuickStep, with the latter winning the transfer race in the autumn. Is Zana really destined for big things at Soudal?
I doubt it. I reckon he’s better suited to an all-star domestique role somewhere. He’s got strong climbing legs, and he’s proved in the past that he’s fit for domestique duty, particularly during the 2023 Giro d’Italia by Eddie Dunbar’s side. He’d be a wasted cog at UAE Team Emirates, so I propose a move to Visma-Lease a Bike. The Dutch team are in need of some more climbers to rival the roster of their rivals. Given Zana would probably come at a reasonable price, it’s a shame they didn’t try to capture the Italian’s signature for 2026. He could’ve made all the difference for a potential Giro defence next spring.
5. James Shaw to Q36.5
Harry Talbot
James Shaw is one of the last remaining Brits lacking a WorldTour contract for 2026. He, along with a few other Brits, is unlikely to receive an extension at EF, leaving them to scramble for last-minute leads.
The East Midlands rider has been very open about his contract struggles. In a LinkedIn post, he said, ‘Now for the awkward answer to the question l’ve been avoiding when you lot direct message me. For 2026, I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing. Yet again, I find myself aboard the ship of riders in search of a contract in 2026.’
In this 11th hour, it’s becoming unlikely that a WorldTour team will keep him on board. Shaw rode for Lotto as a junior, but slots over at the Belgian squad have been thinned out since the confirmation of their merger with Intermarché-Wanty. The next best thing would be on the ProTeam level. The likes of Tudor and Q36.5 spring to mind, especially since both have WorldTour wildcards spots guaranteed, including Grand Tour invites.
Out of those options, Q36.5 seems the best fit. The squad is building a strong British and Irish core, with Thomas Gloag, Fred Wright and Eddie Dunbar all signed up for 2026. Plus, Shaw would provide another string in the Swiss squad’s GC bow, with the aim of nursing Tom Pidcock onto another Grand Tour podium.
This is wishful thinking though. The team, which will be renamed to Pinarello-Q36.5 in the new year, has now reached its 30-rider threshold. That means there’s no room at the inn for Shaw or our other potential Q36.5 candidate James Knox either.
4. Derek Gee to Ineos Grenadiers
Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Derek Gee is easily the most high-profile free agent on the market. This status came after he cut ties with his former team Israel-Premier Tech abruptly before the start of the Vuelta a España, citing a heavy weight on his conscience. While this debacle is still to be ironed out, he’s technically on the market.
When the news broke in September, Daniel Benson reported on his Substack that Ineos Grenadiers were sniffing out the Canadian. Gee’s denied that he’s been in talks for a new contract, instead reaffirming that he’s looking to close this legal chapter with Israel-Premier Tech first. However, as a recent top five finisher in a Grand Tour and his popular profile within the peloton, it’s understandable why Ineos would be so eager to bring him on deck.
To me, Ineos makes perfect sense. Gee is a typical signing for them – at least in historic terms. He’s a former track star with a time-trial pedigree and proven climbing legs. With proper team support, he could morph into a Geraint Thomas or Thymen Arensman-like figure within the team’s ranks.
In recent days, it’s been reported by Benson that Premier Tech (the business) are in talks with Ineos Grenadiers over sponsorship duties. If this materialises, it could be the broker needed to secure Gee’s contract for 2026. I just dread to think what that jersey will look like with Total’s branding plopped onto it.
3. David Gaudu to Picnic-PostNL
Harry Talbot
A lot has been made in the French press about David Gaudu over the past decade. He shot into the limelight after winning the Tour de l’Avenir in 2016, beating Egan Bernal and Jai Hindley to the top spot. He was then funnelled into domestique duties for Thibaut Pinot, a role in which he excelled during the 2018 and 2019 Tour de Frances. When handed his own leadership opportunities, however, he’s been a little underwhelming. That said, he’s still got proven talent and a solid turn of speed, proven at this year’s Vuelta a España, where he claimed Stage 3.
For a while, it seemed that he could be on the move. Initial rumours pointed towards a move to Picnic-PostNL, but he’s chosen to back the Groupama horse for two more years instead.
I, however, don’t see this as Gaudu’s best option. I think he needs to leave the French scene behind. Controversial, yes, but I think it could do him a world of good to ride elsewhere. He speaks decent English, so it’s not like a language barrier is the issue here. To that end, I think Picnic could have given the Frenchman a new lease of life. It would have provided a different way of working and offered him a whole new environment to grow during this crucial phase of his career. He’s 29 after all, with more to give.
If he went to Picnic, he could’ve had the best of both worlds, doubling as a leader and domestique de luxe for Scottish rising star Oscar Onley. On the other hand, Tudor Pro Cycling, Jayco-AlUla and Soudal-QuickStep, who’ve revitalised Aurélien Paret-Peintre, would have also been interesting prospects for Gaudu.
2. Enric Mas to Bahrain Victorious
Xavier Pereyron
In a year when there were few GC leaders on the market, Enric Mas caught my attention. In fact, I had my fingers crossed for a Bahrain-bound transfer back in our pre-season wishlist.
Alas, the Spaniard has decided to stick with Movistar for the foreseeable future, having signed himself off for the next four seasons.
Why Bahrain Victorious? Well, the team have been struggling to find their Grand Tour legs in recent years. With Mikel Landa out the door and a state pension closing in for Damiano Caruso, there’s been something of a power vacuum near the top. The squad boast a strong fleet of domestiques who’d be primed for supporting roles if an all-star leader came on board.
Yes, Lenny Martinez could be that man – as could the unreliable Italian Antonio Tiberi. However, Mas could be a sure-fire way to keep the team in conversations at Grand Tours, namely the Vuelta, where the Catalan has podiumed on four occasions. Bahrain should have cut their arms off for a Grand Tour contender like him.
1. Primož Roglič to EF Education-EasyPost
Xavier Pereyron
With Remco Evenepoel’s arrival at Red Bull and the growing list of pretenders in their stable, chiefly Florian Lipowitz and Giulio Pelizzari, Primož Roglič’s role will no doubt change over the upcoming 12 months. The four-time Vuelta champ had negotiated a contract renewal long before Evenepoel’s transfer, and he’s sealed his fate with the German team for another year. Without any clear leadership roles, not even his dear Vuelta on the cards, is Roglič a wasted asset in Red Bull?
My response to that is a resounding yes. This year, he proved he could still ruffle some feathers at WorldTour stage races, and he still managed to lead the Giro for a week, even if his subsequent towel-throwing caught more headlines. He’s still got plenty of brand value, and I dare say he could podium a Grand Tour one final time, or at the very minimum, win some week-long races like the Volta a Catalunya or Tour de Suisse.
Despite talks of a tight budget, EF have rolled the dice on some old guns in the past. Think Rui Costa, Rigoberto Urán or even Richard Carapaz. It seems Jonathan Vaughters loves an elder statesman. With the Slovenian’s interview quips, he’d align quite nicely with EF’s alternative identity. Don’t forget, he suits pink quite nicely as well, having won the maglia rosa in 2023.
Given we’ve thrown Carapaz overboard in search of a Movistar homecoming, Roglič would move into a leadership role at EF. Yes, he’d lack the team support offered at both Visma and Red Bull, but there’s still a budding roster of mid-table climbers that could benefit from Roglič’s experience.