Last week we cast our eye back to the 2017-2018 transfer window and looked at the moves that had paid off over the course of this season. This week, we're looking at those that didn't.
Whether it's adapting to the new environment, new teammates, a new calendar, or simply a lack of form for whatever other reason, there a number of high-profile riders who, wearing fresh colours, haven't lived up to the high expectations they set for themselves in previous years.
Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors to Katusha-Alpecin)
How the mighty have fallen. Marcel Kittel was on top of the world this time last year. He'd just ended the season topping the victory rankings, with 14, and had struck no fewer than five times at the Tour de France. After two seasons with Quick-Step, his annus horribilis of 2015 seemed a distant memory, yet little did he know that something similar was just around the corner.
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Kittel signed for Katusha-Alpecin for the start of the 2018 season. Since then he has won just two races, struggled to build an effective lead-out train, fallen out with team management, and succumbed to an illness that required him to call time on his season in August.
Kittel's move to the Russian team was tied up with their sponsorship deal with Alpecin - the German shampoo company teaming up with the nation's star rider and bearer of most-discussed hairstyle in the WorldTour seemed like a natural fit - but it wasn't like Kittel had the luxury of choice. In fact, his departure was precipitated by the rise of Fernando Gaviria, who, with his four wins on his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia - not to mention him equalling Kittel's end-of-season record of 14 wins - had established himself as the Belgian team's lead sprinter for 2018.
Kittel pulled on the red of Katusha and, with Fabio Sabatini having refused to follow him from Quick-Step, set about building a lead-out train with Marco Haller and Rick Zabel. The early signs were far from encouraging at the Dubai Tour and although there were some improvements in Abu Dhabi, Kittel left the Middle East without a customary early-season win. Things looked to be back on track when he swapped Paris-Nice for Tirreno-Adriatico and struck twice, but he wouldn't win again all season.
Fabio Aru (Astana to UAE Team Emirates)
Warren Barguil (Sunweb to Fortuneo-Samsic)
Louis Meintjes (UAE Team Emirates to Dimension Data)
Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-SRAM to Wiggle-High5)
Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo to Sunweb)
Alberto Bettiol (EF-Drapac to BMC Racing)
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/7-transfer-flops-of-2018
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