It might only be the second week of February, with a number of riders yet to even start their racing campaigns, but that hasn’t stopped the transfer market waking from its winter hibernation. Money never sleeps, as a poor sequel once said.
At this point in the season, riders and teams are not yet dwelling on contracts and futures. Instead, it’s the agents who are lining up their ducks before approaching teams on their clients’ behalves. Some riders might be negotiating with agents, but the rider-team talks typically don’t roar into action until the Classics.
Going forward, the big trends look to be centred around the scramble for Grand Tour riders, with Richie Porte, Mikel Landa, and Fabio Aru all out of contract. There are also question marks over Quick-Step Floors as Patrick Lefevere is yet to secure a title sponsor for next season. Most of his riders are out of contract, although we understand that a few have options to extend if the team carries on. All indications so far are that the squad will ride on in 2018.
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We’ve identified over 50 riders on the market for 2018 – though there are of course more – and picked out 10 to watch over the coming months.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
It’s hard to imagine Geraint Thomas anywhere other than at Team Sky but the coming months will determine the next phase in the Welshman’s career. An opportunity to lead at the Giro d’Italia has finally presented itself and a successful ride – top-five or above – would leave Thomas with a choice to make. With Chris Froome on the team until at least 2018, it’s almost unthinkable to imagine Team Sky going to next year’s Tour with two leaders. Thomas has also indicated that he wouldn’t change teams simply for the money and the chance to lead a weakened team around France. Dave Brailsford will almost certainly fight tooth and nail to ward off any possible approach from a rival in order to kick-start the option on Thomas’ current contract to extend for another year.
Richie Porte (BMC Racing)
Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors)
Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis)
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin)
Steve Cummings (Dimension Data)
Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac)
Nathan Haas (Dimension Data)
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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