So how is the market moving? We're talking about it with Alex Carera, prosecutor among the most experienced. Only yesterday we proposed a roundup of the major names who have changed sides, are changing theirs, or will hold on to them.
But we'd like to analyze it better as a whole. What emerges from this first glimpse of the transfer market? standings UCI Did the relegation/salvation of teams have any impact on these movements?
The uncertainty of relegation
Is there really a hunt for sprinters in this summer transfer market or not? Basically, they seem to be the ones bringing in the most points. But Carera is very clear from the start.
«The situation – says Alex – is simple: the news is that The UCI team rankings have shaped this market. There are teams, even big teams, that risk losing their WorldTour license. If they finish 19th at the end of the season, they lose their license, but for another season you have the right to participate in the most important racesIf you finish twentieth, you lose both your license and this right. Israel Premier Tech e Lotto Soudal, for now, are the last two.
«And what is the problem? That the contracts stipulated risk being null and void. Let me explain. When you sign a contract and guarantee that athlete a WorldTour contract (and schedule, ed.) and then don't do it, it can be invalidated.
"In this way Teams at risk, for at least a year, struggle to sign good riders. The second-tier ones are fine, but you don't take the top-tier ones. Those riders don't come to you and risk not being able to do certain races, and not having any security in general."
Hunting for sprinters?
We ourselves, also based on what some team managers told us last year, thought it was a real hunt for sprinters. Sprinters, by winning more, or at least placing more in the top positions, tend to bring home a greater number of points. As a result, they are the most popular.
But even in this Alex Carera adjusts his aim. «The idea of sprinters and those who win the most and bring in the most points is also right – explains Alex – but the attribution of points is wrongi. It can only be theArkea-Samsic in May he collected more points in minor races than he did in the Trek-Segafredo throughout the Tour of Italy. Or that a victory in a stage of the Tour is worth as much as a seventh place in San Sebastian (eighth if compared to the Giro, ed.).
«That said, I I don't see a hunt for sprinters. Having a sprinter doesn't guarantee points. Points, so the statistics say, are earned by the all-around riders. The riders at the Lorenzo Rota so to speak."
Hunting for a sprinter makes sense if you're a French, Belgian, or Dutch team. Why? Because there are many fast races up there, flat due to the terrain, many 1.1s that award high points.
"They are indeed looking for the sprinter. And in fact, if you look at the professional rankings of recent years, it has been won (going backwards) by: Alpecin-Deceuninck, Intermarche Wanty Gobert twice and TotalEnergies. But how many races like this are there in the Italian calendar? Very few."
And on Groupama-FDJ…
Another aspect that struck us about this market and that we commented with Alex is the multiple passage of the boys from Groupama-FDJ From continental to WorldTour. Is this the future?
«Yes, I saw – comments Carera – They let eight of them pass. For me, that's an exception. Because they had the best continental team in the world. This was evident in the results at the Giro U23, at the Valle d'Aosta, and will be evident at the Avenir (even though it will be a race by nations, its riders will shine, ed.). They had the best athletes. They did a great job recruiting and that's why they couldn't afford to lose them. When will he get another team with those qualities?
If you ask me if continental races are the future, I'd say yes. Not so much because they create pools of young talent, but because they allow for the exchange of athletes and a fresher schedule. In fact, a team doesn't have 30 riders, but 45."
