With 20 riders already under contract for 2018 Luca Guercilena only needs to add the final brushstrokes to his canvas for 2018 but the Trek Segafredo boss is open to adding to his GC arsenal, while also retaining the services of Alberto Contador.
The Spaniard signed a one-year deal with Trek Segafredo for 2017 during last year's Tour de France and has the option of a second year deal on the table. Guercilena is keen to keep the Spaniard and the feedback from inside the team is that the rider's wealth of experience on the bike – and with other manufactures – is a huge positive for their development.
With Bauke Mollema only one year into a two-year deal, and the likes of Fabio Felline, Giacomo Nizzolo, John Degenkolb, Jasper Stuyven also tied down to long term deals Guercilena is looking for one or two signings rather than a major overall like the one that took place in 2016. Julien Bernard and Jesus Hernandez are two of the riders out of contract while it's understood that Kiel Reijnen has already re-signed.
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"So right now we have 20 riders on contracts. That's quite a lot and that why we're not in a hurry to make any specific business," Guercilena told Cyclingnews at the Dauphine.
"We're in a lucky place that we have sponsors through to 2020 so that's the situation. We're in control and thinking about the kind of riders we'd like to re-new with and then we're watching the market a bit. We're not really stressed about it."
There is no shortage of riders on the market and that doesn't exclude Contador. The Spaniard may be 34 but he has already indicated that he will carry on 2018 and the Giro d'Italia will almost certainly be his main focus next season. One rumour at the Dauphine is that he will retire after the race but the most likely situation is that he will race the full season. Trek are keen for him to race until the end of 2018. Either way, Guercilena is keen on retaining the Spaniard.
Aru and keeping options open
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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