Astana Qazaqstan introduced the signing of Clément Champoussin coming throughout from the embattled Arkéa-B&B Inns crew, including power to their crew as they aspire to climb out of the relegation zone within the coming yr and stay within the WorldTour in 2026.
They face an uphill battle in 2025 to climb over 18th place Cofidis, however they’ve made six key signings, snatching up Alberto Bettiol (EF Training-EasyPost), Diego Ulissi (UAE Workforce Emirates), Aaron Gate (Burgos BH), Sergio Higuita (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) and Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – making them the clear ‘winners’ within the 2024-2025 transfers market.
Champoussin gained the Giro della Toscana and completed second total within the Arctic Race of Norway this yr together with podiums within the GP de Wallonie, Circuito de Getxo and a stage of the Tour de la Provence. He accrued 681 factors this season, making him the fourth-most beneficial switch into the crew for 2025 after Bettiol, Ulissi and Gate.
The transfer comes as Arkéa-B&B Inns have severe considerations concerning the crew’s future as their cope with each title sponsors ends on the conclusion of the 2025 season and their prospects of remaining within the WorldTour proceed to fall as they’re outdoors the highest 18 groups.
The switch season needs to be the time when groups look to bolster their rosters to maneuver up the rankings and qualify for the 2026-2028 WorldTour. Nevertheless, whereas Astana have secured the providers of seven seasoned riders, Arkéa-B&B Inns are letting Champoussin go earlier than the tip of his contract.
“Initially, I wish to thank the administration of Arkéa-B&B Inns for his or her open {and professional} strategy throughout the negotiations for this switch,” Astana supervisor Alexandr Vinokourov stated within the crew’s press launch.
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“Champoussin had a really robust 2024 season, and we count on that he’ll be capable to develop even additional inside our crew. He will certainly have the chance to take action.”
Below UCI guidelines, the factors a rider earns throughout the season keep together with his crew, so whereas Astana Qazaqstan haven’t immediately benefitted from their transfers but, their new signings collectively have earned 4,718 factors this yr.
Will or not it’s sufficient to maintain them within the WorldTour in 2026?
Astana Qazaqstan are at the moment 4,782 factors behind Cofidis, who’re 18th, within the 2023-2024 factors totals. If all the riders scored on the identical stage as this season within the coming yr, it seems to be as if Astana will nonetheless be in need of factors in 2025 and may very well be dealing with relegation in 2026.
With solely 27 riders confirmed to their roster for subsequent yr, they may nonetheless be available in the market for extra high-scoring riders.
As of publication, the highest riders of 2024 who’ve but to announce their crew for the approaching season embody Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Mihkels Madis (Intermarché-Wanty), Michael Valgren and Rui Costa (each EF Training-EasyPost) and Chris Harper (Jayco-AlUla).
Movistar pad out crew with Cepeda
Jefferson Cepeda (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The Movistar Workforce weren’t in bother in terms of relegation in 2026 and have stored the ship regular with one other sensible signing in Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
Cepeda gained the general Tour of Qinghai Lake in July and a stage of the Tour du Limousin. With a gentle stream of strong finishes, the Ecuadorian earned 770 factors this season. Cepeda is joined by Orluis Aular (977 factors) in transferring from Caja Rural to Movistar.
The crew additionally signed double Vuelta a España stage winner Pablo Castrillo from Kern Pharma, and Natnael Tesfazion (Lidl-Trek) to maintain their potential standings intact.
Winners and losers within the switch season thus far
Lotto Dstny are shedding their second title sponsor and can race merely as Lotto subsequent yr, however after being relegated after the 2022 season, they’ve been steadily within the high 10 of the rankings and are at the moment ninth within the 2023-2024 factors totals.
Nevertheless, they suffered tremendously on this yr’s switch season, giving up riders with a mixed tally of just about 5,300 factors.
Whereas Lotto stored their high scorers Maxim Van Gils and Arnaud De Lie, they let Victor Campenaerts go to Visma-Lease a Bike, Pascal Eenkhoorn to Soudal-Quickstep, Andreas Kron to Uno-X Mobility, Sylvain Moniquet to Cofidis, Hurt Vanhoucke to Q36.5 and Florian Vermeersch to UAE Workforce Emirates.
Due to their robust 2023 and 2024 seasons, nonetheless, they need to stay safely within the high 15 so long as they proceed to carry out as they’ve with their present riders and incoming neo-pros. Reuben Thompson (Groupama-FDJ) and Lars Craps (Flanders Baloise) are their solely new signings apart from 5 devo riders.
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale had been the following hardest hit within the switch season, primarily due to Ben O’Connor’s transfer to Jayco-AlUla. The Australian gained 4,096 factors this season and was a significant factor in offsetting Jayco-AlUla’s lack of Simon Yates to Visma-Lease a Bike.
The French crew misplaced riders who scored a mixed complete of three,932 factors this yr and weren’t in a position to change O’Connor’s potential. Time trial specialist Stefan Bissegger was their greatest acquisition.
Cofidis, at the moment on the bubble in 18th within the 2023-2024 factors complete, misplaced Guillaume Martin to Groupama-FDJ and Gorka Izagirre and Simon Geschke to retirement however have signed Alex Aranburu (Movistar), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) and Emanuel Buchmann (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). With 27 riders at the moment confirmed for subsequent season, they nonetheless have room so as to add worth to their 2025 roster.
The highest groups look set to stay answerable for the UCI rankings, with UAE Workforce Emirates shedding barely due to the departure of Ulissi and Marc Hirschi (to Tudor Professional Biking). Visma-Lease a Bike boosted their potential with Simon Yates and Axel Zingle (Cofidis), whereas Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe picked up a trio of riders from Visma and snatched Laurence Pithie from Groupama-FDJ.
Ineos Grenadiers have struggled the many of the high 5 groups, shedding Ethan Hayter to Quickstep and Jhonatan Narvaez to UAE Workforce Emirates.
