As WorldTour racing fizzles out and most of the peloton boards planes bound for holiday destinations rather than bike races, the cycling world turns its attention to the 2018 season. For the riders, the new season starts almost as soon as the last one ends. With perhaps a little room for time off the bike and a mind and body reset, teams and riders are already on the conveyer belt inching them ever closer to 1 January. Anticipation for 2018 has been building since 1st August when the transfer window officially opened, and with some riders still unattached and team rosters incomplete, the cycling world is feverish for information. Who will be riding where and in what colours?
There are a few big names shuffling between teams this winter. The most talked about, and most inevitable, is Mikel Landa’s defection from Team Sky’s controlled and precise environment in favour of the Spanish superteam Movistar. Other blockbuster moves include Alexander Kristoff’s departure from Team Katusha-Alpecin. The Norwegian sprinter is heading for UAE Team Emirates, opening up a space for German sprinter Marcel Kittel, who leaves his modest salary at Quick-Step Floors in favour of free shampoo and uninterrupted sprint-team leadership.
Now let’s take a look at the movers and shakers riding the bikes you can check out in person at the Bicycle Chain:
LottoNL-Jumbo (Bianchi)
Though they are yet to announce their full line-up, it’s certainly not too early to rejoice over the Dutch team’s young American signings, Sepp Kuss and Neilson Powless, coming over from Rally Cycling and Axxeon Hagens Berman respectively. 23-year-old Kuss was picked up by Rally in May 2016 after his surprising victory at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, and Powless is one of Axel Merckx’s golden boys at the phenomenal devo team he runs. Previous graduates from Axxeon include Alex Dowsett, Taylor Phinney and Tao Geoghegan Hart.
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Cannondale-Drapac / EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
2017 has been a landmark year for the boys in green, taking a host of much-needed wins and winning over the cycling world (and new sponsors) with their characteristic positivity and charm. The American team wave goodbye to a number of hot talents, but are welcoming a handful of strong men to support their big names. Mitch Docker moves across from Orica-Scott to support the classics squad and the world’s (second) favourite British sprinter, Dan McLay, finally makes the step up from ProConti to WorldTour ranks. It will be really exciting to see what this team can do with some fresh legs and their newly-established structure after a stellar 2017.
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Team Sunweb (Giant)
If Cannondale have had a good year, Sunweb have had a great one thanks not just to Giro-winner, Tom Dumoulin, but also a glittering Tour de France team with green jersey, Michael Matthews, and polka dot prince, Warren Barguil, in their ranks. The latter departs at the end of this season in search of the freedom of ProConti opportunism, but strengthening the Australian wing are youngsters Michael Storer and Jai Hindley, who have made waves this year with Mitchelton-Scott. Edward Theuns will also be riding Giant in the classics and providing support in the flat races.
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Bora-Hansgrohe (Specialized)
There’s not a great deal changing in the Bora camp after their relaunch at the beginning of this year. However, the German squad have managed to recruit Italian rouleur Daniel Oss to bolster their classics team and assume peloton-pulling duties. His fellow Italian, Davide Formolo, comes across from Cannondale, and along with Brit, Pete Kennaugh, will hope to make his new Tarmac sing in the mountains.
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Quick-Step Floors (Specialized)
The Belgian superteam have had an embarrassment of riches this season, so it’s no surprise that they are losing some big names this winter including Dan Martin and Kittel. Elia Viviani is the biggest incoming name, hoping for some freedom from the GC-focussed clutches of Team Sky. The perhaps more exciting signing however, is James Knox, the young Brit graduating from Team Wiggins. Knox has performed beyond his years in some big races this year and joins Quick-Step’s GC squad for 2018.
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Trek-Segafredo
Trek are one of the few teams to have announced their full roster for 2018, confirming that they will not be replacing the recently retired Alberto Contador with another GC rider. Instead, the team are building strength around existing riders Bauke Mollema and John Degenkolb, bringing in nifty puncheur Gianluca Brambilla and broad-shouldered Irish national champion Ryan Mullen among others.
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