it's weird to see so many rider moves and extensions being announced at this time of year

Torstein Træen's move to Uno-X now confirmed on the team website

can remember the tears when he lost the Giro on the last day but he was soon smiling again

thanks 🍻

seems probable but even that's not obvious. Many sponsors today own their teams to save the VAT for this, ie NSN will have to charge sponsors more just to pay this tax, more still if they want a fee as well. Plus their roster isn't an easy sell to sponsors either, Gee or not

true, but even crop out the second sentence and it's hard to know what the plan is as if they see the sport growing this also means they're on the hook for the next three says of rider wage growth too. Be good to learn more about their plans, hopefully some fuller interviews to come

it's more buy the team and you get the UCI licence that goes with it as the licence is contingent on the team. The press release says they've got a World Tour licence but hopefully this is settled, that the UCI and their auditors have reviewed NSN's plans etc

yes but it's regulated and requires approval, eg Sky to Ineos happened mid-season. Ideally this would have gone through earlier but doing it now during the registration/licence process is ok as long as enough info can be given to reassure the UCI, ie they'll want to be sure money is there

rare in cycling or elsewhere and heard Voeckler talking about this earlier this year, said he felt he had to stay. He's been sounded out to take over the team and values like this make him a natural successor to JR but he's content in the French selector role + a TV pundit

we don't know all the details yet but if handled right no grounds for termination under the rules here; plus good luck walking out of a contract now and finding a ride elsewhere, especially on better terms

Update: the team says via press release JR isn't going... just yet. He'll lead the team into its 27th year but there's a "deep consideration" about the team's future. Today's L'Equipe also says Heulot could join but hasn't signed and he's got some non-compete clauses from his time at Lotto too.

Now confirmed by team in a press release. Interesting to see investors coming in to run a team, as if they see it as a franchise to own. Even if they can find willing sponsors to pay for naming rights while they run the management this may not be the route to mega returns but will wait to learn more

yes, Marca obviously leaning into the new Spanish angle even if the team will have a Swiss flag. Big question is if this an exit by Adams or is he still funding the team?

doesn't look ready for retirement there. He might be stepping down but suspect he'll be at plenty of bike races for some time to come

...NSN was co-founded by retired footballer Andrés Iniesta and it and Stoneweg have joint interests in sport, they bought control of Danish second division football team FC Helsingør a year ago. Now looks likes they're venturing into pro cycling

...team has long been Bernaudeau's project from racing style to table manners to internal management, he's hired people and later on recruited their (adult) children. So a big change coming. Plus it's all run out of a 19th manor house rather than a warehouse or an accountant's mailbox.

...the team has one year's sponsorship left from Total, searching for a replacement. Had been talk of Visit Rwanda here but now looks like, via La Gazzetta, this could sponsor the rebranded IPT instead. If Heulot can land one then a good chance of a Tour de France invite so potentially useful...

Sounds like a good idea too, will look up later why the opposition is so visible. All in a big cycling area for Tour, Dauphiné and now this race but also tourism for famous climbs

Yes, can see the protests more than the visible signs of the works. Need to find out more about the rejection as some locals might not welcome the race