Pro Cycling Transfer Season Begins

The window for pro cyclists to transfer between teams began on 1 August. Rumors about possible moves were circulating during the Tour de France. Some big names were mentioned. As of this week, teams can officially announce their roster moves for 2016.

BMC Racing Team has announced that Richie Porte, a key lieutenant of Team Sky. Porte helped Chris Froome win the Tour in 2013 and 2015 and Bradley Wiggins in 2012. However, Porte stated he wanted to lead a team and win races during the Tour. Porte joining the BMC team raises questions about the current team leader Tejay van Garderen. There were rumors that van Garderen is leaving BMC for Trek Factory Team, although Trek Factory Racing has stated that they have no interest in van Garderen. This makes sense because Bauke Mollema of Trek came in seventh in the Tour de France. Why pick up expensive talent when Trek has a talented 28-year-old in his first year on the team.

Trek Factory Racing, MTN-Qhubeka, and BMC are thought to be interested in Mark Cavendish. Again Trek Factory Racing’s general manager, Luca Guercilena, says that have little chance of signing Cavendish. Cavendish is in the last year of his contract with Etixx-Quick Step and is negotiating with the team for an extension.

Among the other rumored moves:

• Michal Kwiatkowski from Etixx-Quick Step to Team Sky
• Bryan Coquard from Team Europcar to AG2R La Mondiale
• Sylvain Chavanel from IAM Cycling to Fortuneo Vital Concept
• Rigoberto Uran from Etixx-Quick Step to Team Cannondale-Garmin

Other News

MTN, the South African telecommunications company, has ended its endorsement of the MTN-Qhubeka team after nine years. The first professional African team in the Tour performed beyond expectations in the Tour de France, with Daniel Teklehaimanot wearing the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey for a few days and Steve Cummings winning a Tour stage. MTN-Qhubeka Team Principal, Doug Ryder, is talking to other companies about becoming the primary sponsor of the team. Dimension Data, a South African IT services company is leading candidate to be the sponsor at this point.