Cycling transfers: Due to the Corona break, the transfer carousel is turning a little slower this season. However, a small change seems to be imminent in the AG2R La Mondiale team.
Cycling Transfers: Will Bardet join Sunweb?
Actually, at this point in the season, the first transfers are usually already confirmed – at least unofficially. However, due to the enforced break caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the transfer carousel has come to a standstill. We already know that Chris Froome, after many years with Team Sky and later Ineos, will join Israel Start-Up Nation next year. There are likely to be some changes there. The same will be true for Team AG2R La Mondiale. French riders Romain Bardet and Pierre Latour are expected to leave the team. This is reported by the usually well-informed sports newspaper L'Equipe. While Bardet is expected to join the German team Sunweb, rumors suggest that Latour is headed to the French second-division team Total Direct Energie. This would mean AG2R La Mondiale would lose its two strongest climbers.
Will Van Avermaet join AG2R La Mondiale?
There will also be a major upheaval in Jim Ochowicz's team. As is already known, the main sponsor CCC will withdraw at the end of the year. Due to the Corona crisis, the Polish company no longer sees itself in a position to support a WorldTour team. Accordingly, Jim Ochowicz has to look for a new sponsor again. If this fails, Team CCC will automatically disband - and the drivers will be freely available while on the transfer market. At least for Greg Van Avermaet, an interested party seems to have already been found. As reported by L'Equipe, the AG2R La Mondiale team should be a possible contact point for the Olympic champion. There he would be able to form a strong classic duo together with the Belgian Oliver Naesen.