Following the demise of two teams, the 2016 transfer season has seen some big names switch teams to a lot of fanfare, namely Alberto Contador's move to Trek-Segafredo and Peter Sagan's to Bora-Hansgrohe. Fans, media and their new teams will wait with baited breath to see how they perform in 2017.
But what of those who joined new teams for the 2016 season? There were some marquee transfers back then too. Some worked out, such as Mark Cavendish's move to Dimension Data or Richie Porte's switch to BMC. Others didn't have quite so much luck, and Cyclingnews has put together a list of riders who hoped for more in their first seasons.
Ryder Hesjedal
Moved from: Cannondale-Garmin
Moved to: Trek-Segafredo
Victories: 0
Best result: 4th in individual time trial at Tour of Alberta
What went wrong: Since winning the 2012 Giro d'Italia, success has been hard to come by for Ryder Hesjedal. A stage win at the 2014 Vuelta a Espana has been the only trip to the top step for Canada's first, and only,Grand Tour winner. His move to Trek-Segafredo was an opportunity for a new beginning and a chance to revive his ailing stage racing performances. The Giro d'Italia would be the scene of his attempt to find his former glory, but it didn't work out after losing time early on before eventually abandoning the race midway through stage 14.
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Even before he left the race, Hesjedal had noted that it could be his final Grand Tour and so it proved. After a few more disappointing results, he announced his retirement in August and began something of a farewell tour in his native Canada before heading to Italy for his final races. The season came to a close with a DNF at Il Lombardia.
Carlos Betancur
Moved from: AG2R-La Mondiale
Moved to: Movistar
Victories: 2
Best result: Stage wins at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon and Vuelta Asturias
What went wrong: Betancur's switch to Movistar was perhaps a little surprising after a long layoff that ended with the early termination of his contract at AG2R La Mondiale. However, if any team was going to get the best out of the often-tricky Colombian, it was likely to be the Spanish outfit. Not only did they speak the same language but they were well used to working with Colombian riders, with Nairo Quintana, his brother Dayer and Winner Anacona on their books.
We had a long wait to see what Betancur could do at his new team, with the 27-year-old only making his season debut at Milan-San Remo in March some seven months after his last competitive appearance. He didn't finish, and a series of DNFs would follow as he made his way through some of the cobbled Classics. There were some positive signs with wins in March and April, but little success followed and he raced just 12 days after abandoning the Giro d'Italia in the final days. Fortunately, Betancur has another year on his contract to prove his worth to his new employers.
Mikel Landa
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Igor Anton
Beñat Intxausti
Rafael Valls
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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