The transfer season is in full swing, and more confirmations of rider movements are being made public by teams on a daily basis. According to the International Cycling Union regulation, transfers are only allowed to be made public from the 1st August. Since then we’ve learned that world champion Thor Hushovd will move to BMC Racing team after only one season on Garmin-Cervélo.
So far Garmin-Cervelo in turn has confirmed Sébastien Rosseler and Alex Rasmussen will join its team, with a few more announcements to come, according to CEO Jonathan Vaughters. He has said that the team’s net gains will more than offset its losses, suggesting that a big name rider could be on the way.
The new GreenEdge cycling team has confirmed their first five signings; they include Stuart O'Grady, Pieter Weening, Jack Bobridge and brothers Cameron and Travis Meyer. Daniel Teklehaimanot’s coach JP van Zyl has also confirmed to VeloNation that the Eritrean will join the team on a two-year deal.
Belgian team Quick Step, which will be merging with Omega Pharma for next season, has also acquired the services of twin brothers Peter and Martin Velits (HTC-Highroad) along with Michal Kwiatkowski (RadioShack) and Michal Golas (Vacansoleil-DCM). Peter won the individual time trial in last year’s Vuelta a España before going on to finish the race in third place.
It was announced yesterday that 33 year old Jimmy Casper will ride in Ag2r La Mondiale colours during 2012. The French sprinter has won one stage of the Tour de France during his career and yesterday celebrated his new contract by winning stage one of the Tour de l’Ain. Meanwhile Vacansoleil DCM riders Wout Poels and Rob Ruijgh have both had their current deals extended by a year.
Rumours – yet to be confirmed
Quick Step and the BMC Racing team are said to be the forerunners for Philippe Gilbert’s signature. According to Gilbert’s agent Vincent Wathelet, the deliberations are nearing an end. “Quick Step and BMC are the last two teams in contention,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Tuesday we met with Patrick Lefevere (Quick Step), and next week we will discuss with John Lelangue (director of BMC). Anyway, in sport, things are clear: BMC a step ahead of the rest of the pack."
Manuel Belletti has signed for Europcar from Colnago-CSF Inox according to CiclismoOnline. Belletti won a stage at the Giro d’Italia last year and has a total of four victories to his name this season.
Yesterday HTC Highroad sprinter Mark Renshaw was linked to Rabobank, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Sky is said to have made an offer for Mark Cavendish’s leadout man which Rabobank has reportedly outbid. Speaking to AFP, Renshaw neither confirmed nor denied the rumours saying, “all I can say is that I’ve been in discussions with Rabobank.”
With HTC Highroad shutting it’s doors at the end of the season, a number of their top riders have been linked to teams. Star sprinter Cavendish is reportedly moving to British team Sky Procycling with Bernard Eisel also possibly going with him. In addition, former Italian time trial champion Marco Pinotti might be moving to Liquigas-Cannondale while newspaper Het Nieuwsblad has linked young Belgian Jan Ghyselinck to Cofidis.
It’s no secret that Filippo Pozzato will be exiting Katusha this season after a lukewarm spell at the Russian team. Pozzato has been left off the list of all three Grand Tours this season and has faced public criticism from the team. He had previously stated he has three offers for next season with Lampre-ISD being the forerunner. This week it emerged that the Farnese Neri Vini Sottoli team could also be interested in the Italian as a replacement for Giovanni Visconti, who has confirmed a move to Movistar.
According to Wieler Flits, Franco Pellizotti could also be returning next year with Farnese Neri Vini Sottoli. The Italian is currently serving a two-year ban for fluctuations in his blood passport.