59 days from the end of the year and, consequently, of the existing contract, the situation for professionals is more stormy than ever this time. Certainly in the next few days the renewals will be released and the last exchanges will be announced, but with the closing of the Arkea-B&B Hotels and the fusion between Lot e Intermarché-Wanty There are fewer and fewer places available.
Let's take a look at the athletes without contracts between Professional and WorldTour teams in view of 2026. A statistical analysis that we can perhaps reflect on again later when everyone has found, or not found, a solution. for 2026 and beyond.
A Girmay case?
Let's start from a general fact: Between the WorldTour and professionals, there are almost 200 athletes who do not have a contract for 2026. But be careful: this number isn't entirely accurate. There are riders who are still waiting for their official signatures to be confirmed, but who already have an agreement, and many others who, playing for smaller teams, follow the annual renewal practice.
However, there are some really big names in this “network”. Let's think for example of Richard Carapaz, which will remain at the EF Education EasyPost, or Matej Mohoric who will not leave the Bahrain Victorious. And the same should apply to Michael Matthews: the Australian, net of the economic difficulties that are affecting the Team Jayco-AlUla, will be confirmed… so much so that we ourselves we met him In Turin, at the medical checks of Copeland's team. These are certainly the three most illustrious names.
To these we can add Biniam Girmay: the Eritrean pedals towards the Israel Premier Tech, or whatever it will be called after the restructuring. But given the complications that have recently affected the Israeli team, his announcement hasn't arrived yet. Not only that, with the merger underway, it's unclear whether Girmay's contract is still valid. There are significant bureaucratic quibbles. And someone like Biniam is tempting for many teams: he could be a luxury "free agent," to use footballing terms.
Who is really at risk is Fernando Gaviria: la Movistar Team he doesn't seem to confirm it and there is little news about him. Davide Cimolai, his trailblazer, will not stay and coming laid down by the UAE Team Emirates there is Molano.
Regarding the big names, there is no confirmation of Kwiatkowski to the Ineos Grenadiers: but since the English team still has to fill 8 of the 30 available positions, there shouldn't be any problems seeing the former world champion back in the Ineos jersey.
How much movement
And speaking of boxes to fill in: Taking the limit of 30 athletes per team, there are still 68 places available in the WorldTour. A few more among the Professionals. The quota is still zero. Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, Hincapie's team was born from the ashes of Rally. And the Team Novo Nordisk It stops at just four riders, one more than Solution Tech-Vini Fantini.
This is to say that of the nearly 200 names, between "automatic" renewals and agreements already signed, the list is destined to shrink... fortunately. The fact remains, however, that 200 riders out for a walk is a lot. And not everyone will find a place. Also because young players are coming from behind and are pressing, and teams are increasingly placing their trust in them.
At this point we can also start looking at Italy. In the absence of a WorldTour team, the good news is that the Professional teams go from three to "four", thanks to the MBH BankBut a clarification must be made: technically the team is Hungarian, therefore officially there remain three Italians: VF Group-Bardiani, Polti-Visit Malta , Solution Tech-Vini Fantini.
Bevilacqua's team, with its entirely Italian DNA, is no longer continental: it continues to focus on young players but with some experienced additions, one above all Fausto Masnada.
Italians
Always considering WorldTour and Professional, to date there are 30 Italian riders without a contract, 31 if we include Mattia Gaffuri, who after his internship with Polti is rumoured to be joining Picnic-PostNL. But the same thing applies: we're waiting for the official announcement. For example Francesco Busatto, perhaps the most illustrious name, should pass through Intermarché-Wanty to the Alpecin-Deceuninck, rumors already circulating in the Dutch media. Another rumor: Samuel Zoccarato should be housed at MBH Bank, as well as Alessandro Verrand. And the list would already be down to 27… thankfully.
Among the most important names still in the running: Lorenzo Rota, Davide Cimolai, Stefano Oldani and Andrea Pasqualon. The latter was in talks with some teams, but it is certain that he will not remain at Bahrain Victorious. Just as there should no longer be a place for Oldani at Cofidis, which already has a full roster for 2026.
Tarozzi and Gazzoli are also on the same page: the first could extend with VF Group-Bardiani, the second could remain with XDS-Astana or, why not, find the path of his former U23 team, the then Colpack Ballan, now MBH Bank.
