Blazin' Saddles: Top 10 biggest cycling transfers of the off-season
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Updated 29/10/2015 at 21:44 GMT
With pro riders already gathering for pre-season training camps and team get-togethers, it's high time to run through the most intriguing moves ahead of 2016.
Musste unters Messer: Mark Cavendish
Image credit: Imago
In no particular order - and therefore not gifting a certain boy racer his first win of the season - here are the top ten transfers in the WorldTour this winter.
Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep to Dimension Data)
In a nutshell: After a long stand-off, Etixx manager Patrick Lefevere decided against giving the former world champion a new contract and so Cavendish - after two largely disappointing years - has decided to seek a new challenge at the team formerly known as MTN-Qhubeka.
Surprise? Well, Cav hardly set the world on fire at Etixx, adding just three Tour de France stage wins to his lofty tally since joining from Team Sky in 2013. Injuries have stalled his progress and just one WorldTour win all season made it very unlikely Cavendish would be granted an extension to his contract, which was already one of the largest in pro cycling.
Chance of success: 3.5/5 - It could go horribly wrong, and dropping to a Pro-Continental team is certainly a gamble. But Cavendish brings Mark Renshaw along for the ride, plus will be reunited with another HTC'er in Bernie Eisel. His presence will ensure invitations to all the big races and the Manxman will have a worthy train to deliver him to the line. But does he still have the zip?
Worth bearing in mind: Still only 30 years old, Cavendish has many years ahead of him. While he may upset the balance of one of the most popular teams from 2015, Cavendish's profile could take the South African team to the next level - particularly if he takes the yellow jersey in the Tour and closes in on Eddy Merckx's all-time stage record.
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Tony Martin and Marcel Kittel (Etixx)
Image credit: Imago
Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin to Etixx-QuickStep)
In a nutshell: Etixx needed someone to fill the void left by Cavendish and who better than the man who ended the Briton's run of four successive victories on the Champs-Elysées?
Surprise? Kittel's last season at Giant-Alpecin was so wretched that his team were prepared to cancel the final year of his contract. To do that to a rider who recently notched four stage wins in back-to-back Tours could be seen as baffling but there's presumably a lot going on that we don't know about and so a fresh start for Kittel after his annus horribilis is hardly surprising.
Chance of success: 4/5 - On his day Kittel is the fastest pure sprinter out there and there's no reason to believe that a 26 year old at the peak of his powers could have lost that in just one year.
Worth bearing in mind: Is Kittel right psychologically to continue riding at the highest level? Rumours from the Giant camp infer that it was not merely a litany of injuries and setbacks that made last season so testing, but that Kittel's motivation and commitment were rock-bottom.
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Wechselt zum Team BMC: Richie Porte
Image credit: Imago
Richie Porte (Team Sky to BMC Racing)
In a nutshell: Fed up with supporting Chris Froome every July, the 30-year-old Australian has decided to offer his services to Tejay Van Garderen instead.
Surprise? Porte's expected move to BMC was one of last season's worst kept secrets and the rider has long made it known he has GC ambitions of his own. Things didn't work out for Porte as Sky's leader in last year's Giro and BMC certainly need a plan B alongside Van Garderen. In fact, this move seems to suit everyone except Van Garderen - who will feel threatened - and Froome - who'll miss his most faithful domestique.
Chance of success: 3/5 - The jury has been out on Porte's GC credentials for a long time now, the rider frequently tailing off in the business end of major races after one bad day in the mountains. Swapping black for red won't lead to yellow any time soon - or pink, for that matter (Porte himself claiming that he's "not leaving Sky for BMC just to target the Giro". Stage wins, however, may come more readily now off the Froome dog leash.
Worth bearing in mind: With both Porte and Van Garderen vying for leadership in July, BMC may well have a strong but potentially fractious team for the Tour, and no obvious leaders for the Giro and a free-for-all for the Vuelta.
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Mikel Landa vom Team Astana
Image credit: Imago
Mikel Landa (Astana to Team Sky)
In a nutshell: With Porte out the door, Sky needed someone to spearhead their Giro campaign and support Froome in the mountains in the Tour. Who better than the breakout rider of last year, who finished third in Italy thanks to back-to-back wins in the Alps then defied team orders to win the queen stage of the Vuelta?
Surprise? Not exactly. Sky had supposedly been tracking Landa for a while and the 25 year old's path at Astana was blocked by Italians Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru.
Chance of success: 5/5 - There's no two ways about it, Landa is a huge talent - arguably the only young Spanish rider capable of replicating the kind of success achieved by the ageing holy trio of Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez. At Sky Landa will be surrounded by the best people and should have a real shot of winning the Giro.
Worth bearing in mind: Landa has never ridden the Tour before and so it will be interesting to see if he makes his debut straight away for Sky, or if they replicate his usual programme of riding both the Giro and Vuelta. In a recent interview with Cyclingnews Landa admitted he still didn't know what his limits were - which is probably exactly what appealed to Sir Dave Brailsford.
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Dan Martin savoure sur le podium après son succès sur le Tour de Lombardie 2014
Image credit: AFP
Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin to Etixx-QuickStep)
In a nutshell: Joining Kittel at Etixx (although you won't see him anywhere near the German's train) is Ireland's Martin, who flies the nest after almost a decade in Jonathan Vaughters' slipstream.
Surprise? It was a bit, yes. Although a fresh challenge and a nice kit for a change may be just what the doctor ordered for Martin after his first win-less season since 2012.
Chance of success: 4/5 - With two monuments to his name in Liege-Bastogne-Liege (2013) and Il Lombardia (2014) there's no better place to be for Martin than a team with as large a classics persuasion as Etixx. The departure of similar riders of his ilk in Uran and Kwiatkowski should open the doors to Martin, who will also look to take things up a level in the Grand Tours.
Worth bearing in mind: For all his promise, Martin has only ever cracked the top ten of a Grand Tour once - in the 2014 Vuelta. At Etixx he will perhaps focus heavily on the Ardennes classics before carrying that form into the Giro, which he has not ridden since 2010. A win in Italy would put him in the illustrious group of riders with victories on all three Grand Tours. It remains to be seen if classics kings Etixx commit to riding for GC in a three-week stage race.
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Sicherte sich den Grand Prix in Québec: Rigoberto Urán
Image credit: Imago
Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep to Cannondale-Garmin)
In a nutshell: The Colombian all-rounder heads across the Atlantic to join the Argyle revolution after a disappointing second year at QuickStep.
Surprise? Not hugely - after all, there was a ready-made spot for Uran vacated by the departing Martin.
Chance of success: 3/5 - Uran all too often goes missing in the big races but he should fit in nicely at Garmin. He ended this season on a high with victory in Quebec but he'll be targeting far bigger prizes next year. If the team can find the right balance then that should certainly be possible.
Worth bearing in mind: Uran finished runner-up in the Giro twice - once when understudy to Bradley Wiggins at Sky and then a year later at QuickStep, where he beat a certain Fabio Aru. It's easy to forget that Uran is still the right side of 30. Time is still on his side even if his credentials as a Grand Tour rider seem a tad anachronistic.
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Pierre Rolland (Europcar), sur le Tour de France 2015.
Image credit: AFP
Pierre Rolland (Direct Energie to Cannondale-Garmin)
In a nutshell: With the future of Jean-Rene Bernaudeau's Europcar team on the brink, Rolland jumped ship when Vaughters came calling.
Surprise? Put simply, yes. Rolland has never ridden outside the French framework of teams and he was one of the last riders you'd expect to swap frites for fries. That said, Ryder Hesjedal's departure opened up a space on the Garmin roster for a rangy rider with climbing zeal so on paper this does make sense.
Chance of success: 3/5 - Very tough to say. Rolland is unproven outside France and is already seen as one of the French old guard although he's yet to turn 30. One thing is certain: Garmin's time trial pedigree should help Rolland in the one discipline that always holds him back. He should be in the hunt for stage wins and top tens again in the Grand Tours - he has the ability.
Worth bearing in mind: It wasn't so long ago that Rolland offered France their best bet of a high Grand Tour finish, while the likes of Bardet and Pinot were mere prospects for the future. A change of environment could be just what the mollycoddled Rolland needs. But it could also take him way outside his comfort zone and end in tears.
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Ryder Hesjedal gewinnt die 14. Etappe der Vuelta
Image credit: Eurosport
Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin to Trek Factory Racing)
In a nutshell: The veteran Canadian joins the retirement home at Trek for one last roll of the dice and a much needed change of air.
Surprise? Yes and no. Hesjedal brought much embarrassment on Vaughters' team when he was forced into admitting his doping past back in 2013. Since then he has struggled for consistency although he did pick up a deserved stage win on the Vuelta in 2014. His contract up, he needed a new home - and Trek made sense.
Chance of success: 2/5 - It's hard to see what the former Giro d'Italia winner will bring to Trek (besides his experience) at such a late stage in his career, and Hesjedal may find it hard to settle in a new environment after an eight year association with Garmin. Stranger things have happened, mind, and Frank Schleck's scalp in this year's Vuelta (not to mention Chris Horner's overall victory in 2013) shows that mature riders can thrive at Trek.
Worth bearing in mind: While the 34 year old still believes he has "podium level legs for the Grand Tours" Hesjedal and Dutchman Bauke Mollema will probably focus on the Giro instead of the Tour.
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Polish world champion Michael Kwiatkowski and Belgian Julian Vermote assist the injured Tony Martin
Image credit: Imago
Michael Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep to Team Sky)
In a nutshell: After a tricky year weighed down by the rainbow stripes, the Polish all-rounder looks to have found his calling within the disciplined confines of the Brailsford/Kerrison regime.
Surprise? It's a question of third-time lucky for Sky, who tried to sign the talented Pole on two occasions before finally prising him away from Etixx. Like the Landa move, this one didn't exactly hit Great British Bake Off levels of secrecy when it came to keeping it under wraps.
Chance of success: 3.5/5 - Already a huge star, there's no denying that Kwiatkowski cannot burn even brighter in the Sky after a stuttering final year at Etixx. With Porte gone, Kwiatkowski can be the man to bring Sky success in the shorter stage races, not to mention the Ardennes classics such as the Amstel Gold, where his biggest win came last season. Tactically, he should improve at Sky, where he will become more of a team player while honing his own considerable individual skills.
Worth bearing in mind: Still only 25, Kwiatkowski has been one of those riders who it's difficult to pigeon hole. Is he a sprinter? A rouleur? A time triallist? A short stage race specialist? Could he even ride for GC in a Grand Tour? Sky is the best place for the Pole to find an answer to these questions.
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Louis Meintjes MTN-Qhubeka
Image credit: Imago
Louis Meintjes (Dimension Data to Lampre-Merida)
In a nutshell: Perhaps disillusioned by the direction of his former team following the signing of Cavendish, the 23-year-old South African has swapped the outfit he joined when turning pro in 2013 for Italians Lampre-Merida.
Surprise? News of Meintjes's departure broke during the opening week of the Vuelta and it's fair to say it came as a shock - not least to the MTN-Qhubeka team for whom Meintjes was riding at the time, and who had banked on their youngster signing a contract extension.
Chance of success: 4/5 - Put into context, Meintjes's dramatic decision to fly the nest at a moment when his opportunities could have been jeopardised by the arrival of a sprinting super star in Cavendish is understandable. With Meintjes currently based in Lucca, joining an Italian team makes sense too - especially one where former MTN staff member Brent Copeland is now team manager. While he remains a raw, largely unproven talent, Meintjes could well raise his game at Lampre.
Worth bearing in mind: Losing a potential champion in Meintjes is a huge blow for Dimension Data, who have at their foundation the vision of developing an African Grand Tour contender over the next few years. Bidding adieu to the rider closest to fitting that bill could well signal the wheels falling off the bus for MTN - especially should Cavendish fail to fire on all cylinders.
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Next week we look at some of the less high-profile but equally intriguing moves of the off-season - including Benat Intxausti (Movistar to Sky), Carlos Betancur (Ag2R-La Mondiale to Movistar) and Jurgen van den Broeck (Lotto-Soudal to Katusha).
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