The latest rider transfers in the men’s WorldTour don’t see any A-listers on the move for 2025.
Instead, it’s a mix of teams shoring up defenses, developing new talent, or bringing on confirmed performers to help deliver results and points.
The 2025 transfer season opened with a bang last month, with big names like Simon Yates (to Visma-Lease a Bike), Ben O’Connor (to Jayco-AlUla), and Lenny Martinez (to Bahrain Victorious) all on the march to new horizons.
None of the major franchise riders are pulling up stakes, at least not yet.
There are continued unconfirmed rumors that Remco Evenepoel might be lured away to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe or that Tom Pidcock might parachute out of Ineos Grenadiers. Both riders are under contract for next season and beyond.
While there haven’t been any blockbuster transfers so far in 2025, dozens of riders are securing new contracts to keep their spot inside the rolling circus.
Teams are making strategic moves to bolster their rosters, and some riders are trading kits to find space for new opportunities to shine.
Just over the past week or so, some important riders have put pen to paper to secure their respective futures.
Here are some of the latest moves:
Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck to Ineos Grenadiers)
Axel Laurance, the U23 world champion in 2023, has confirmed his winning ways this season, with the overall victory at the Tour of Norway, including a win on stage two, as well as stages at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and Etoile de Besseges.
The French rider makes a significant move from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Ineos Grenadiers on a two-year deal.
Things are crowded at Alpecin-Deceuninck, with Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen hogging the fast lane, and the Ineos is promising him room to race.
“In all our discussions I’ve been very impressed with the setup. The plans they have in place for the future and the expertise involved mean that it’s an exciting place to be,” Laurence said in a team note.
A X E L
We’re excited to announce the signing of the under-23 world champ on a two-year deal.
Welcome to the Grenadiers, @laurance_axel pic.twitter.com/LaycQYmcKv
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 2, 2024
Scott Drawer, performance director, said the ambitious Frenchman is keen to learn and win.
“Axel reflects the modern bike rider; he is hungry, motivated and curious,” Drawer said. “Most importantly he is a winner, and we can’t wait to see him grow and play a role shaping the future of this team.”
Laurence is the sixth rider to join Ineos Grenadiers for 2025 as the British “super team” looks to build young talent and support its established stars.
Other arrivals include Bob Jungels (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Victor Langellotti (Burgos-BH), Samuel Watson (Groupama-FDJ), U.S. talent Artem Shmidt, and 18-year-old Danish prospect Peter Øxenberg (Team ColoQuick).
Two-time Vuelta a España stage-winner Pablo Castrillo is also linked to a move to Ineos, with Luke Rowe retiring, Jhonatan Narváez to UAE Team Emirates, and Ethan Hayter to Soudal Quick-Step.
Søren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck to Lidl-Trek)
Søren Kragh Andersen, a versatile Danish rider known for his ability to win stages from breakaways and shine in the classics, is moving from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Lidl-Trek on a two-year deal.
Andersen’s experience and depth will be a key asset for Lidl-Trek as the team takes aim at “super team” status across the classics and grand tours.
“I’m aiming to play an important role for the team in the big spring classics,” Andersen said. “Lidl-Trek have been assembling a really strong classics team and I’m looking forward to being a part of it. Furthermore, it would be great to take a personal victory, perhaps in one of the grand tours. For the rest next I’m just looking forward to have fun with my new teammates and enjoy the ride with them.”
Lidl-Trek made a big push coming into 2024, but so far have been relatively quiet for 2025 arrivals.
Lennard Kämna (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrone) is the only other WorldTour arrival, with Tim Torn Teutenberg and Albert Withen Philipsen both stepping up to the pros. Dario Cataldo is retiring.
Aaron Gate and Diego Ulissi to Astana-Qazaqstan
With Mark Cavendish and Michael Mørkøv both retiring and Alexey Lutsenko heading to Israel-Premier Tech, the team has some big shoes to fill.
The team is also fighting for its WorldTour future, and needs some big wins and points in 2025 to secure its license.
Veteran Diego Ulissi from UAE Team Emirates packs experience and consistency, especially for punchy stages and one-day races.
The team also signed Aaron Gate (Burgos-BH), with a track background and strong all-rounder who can help in the sprints.
NEW RIDER: @DiegoUlissi
Diego Ulissi signs with Astana Qazaqstan Team:
https://t.co/dQoGhzHJxk#AstanaQazaqstanTeam
@SprintCycling pic.twitter.com/nDG30gSr7F
— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) August 29, 2024
Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) brings confirmed consistency in stage races, while Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) can also shine in breakaways and hilly races. Florian Samuel Kajamini, fifth in the Tour de l’Avenir, is a promising Italian stepping up.
There are rumors that the team is also trying to lure some proven sprinter for 2025 in what will be a desperate chase to finish within the top-18 ranked WorldTour teams.
On the rolling three-year ranking, the team entered September ranked 21st.
Jan Hirt and Alexey Lutsenko to Israel-Premier Tech
The second-tier team looks solid to move back into the WorldTour ranks at the end of 2025, and so far it’s sticking to its plan with a few key signings for next season.
Confirmed veterans Jan Hirt (Soudal Quick-Step) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Qazastan) are the latest pickups, with Floris Van Tricht making the jump from the team’s development squad.
“Jan is the kind of rider who works selflessly for his teammates but also takes on a leadership role when given the opportunity,” said general manager Kjell Carlström. “We are looking forward to giving him more opportunities when he joins us next year, especially when it comes to the grand tours and stage races. Jan will also be a great mentor to the up-and-coming riders in the team.”
Several riders are off-contract, with Rick Zabel retiring and Dylan Teuns heading to Cofidis.
Victor Campenaerts returns to Visma-Lease a Bike
Victor Campenaerts, the Belgian time trial specialist and breakaway artist, rejoins Visma-Lease a Bike from Lotto-Dstny.
Campenaerts raced with the team in 2016-17, and is expected to boost the Killer Bees’ grand tour and classics firepower, and see his chances when the time is right.
“Throughout my career, I have always set ambitious but realistic goals. I have often achieved them, like in this past Tour de France,” the Belgian said. “My ultimate goal is to one day win the Tour de France. I am not capable of doing so myself, but I can be a successful part of the team that achieves that victory. I hope I can make the Tour squad next year. This team is the benchmark when it comes to stage racing, so I’m very happy to return.”
Visma-Lease a Bike is seeing a few riders leave, including the retiring Robert Gesink, Koen Bouwman to Jayco-AlUla, and the Dutch brothers Mick and Tim Van Dijke, who are moving to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
The arrival of French talent Alex Zingle (Cofidis), along with Yates and Campenaerts, will round out the solid core around Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss, Olav Kooij, and Wout van Aert.
Matthew Brennan, Tijman Graat, Menno Huising, and Jørgen Nordhagen all make the jump from Visma-Lease a Bike’s development squad.