Transfer Mechanics: Analysing teams 2020 - Part 1

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) and Mitchelton-Scott's Matteo Trentin at the 2019 BinckBank Classic (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

With the European road season now firmly behind us, and most rosters secured for next season, Cyclingnews takes a look at the 2019-20 transfer market. We delve into the ins and outs, and the analysis of who's gone where and which teams have dealt themselves a stronger or weaker hand.

In this first installment, we take a look at the French AG2R La Mondiale team, the Astana Pro Team, a much-changed Bahrain-McLaren, and the Bora-Hansgrohe squad of three-time world champion Peter Sagan.

The most eye-catching change here, though, might be the incoming Cément Champoussin, even if he won't ride for the team until August. The 21-year-old has finished fourth and fifth at the past two editions of the Tour de l'Avenir and is considered one of the brightest talents in French cycling. Champoussin even managed 9th among the elites at last month's Gran Piemonte – won by Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) – while riding as a stagiaire for AG2R.

Analysis: With Miguel Angel Lopez and Alexey Lutsenko still under contract, the priority was to retain the services of Jakob Fuglsang, who has just enjoyed the best season of his career. Despite his 34 years of age, the Dane's market value will have risen as a result of finishing the year as the number-three-ranked rider in the world, and Astana faced stiff competition for his signature. Fuglsang himself revealed how close he came to signing for Movistar, but Astana are able to offer the continuation of the environment in which he's thrived in the past three years.

Over on the departure list, things don't look quite so rosy. Even if Cataldo and Zeits, two key support riders in recent years, are ageing, Bilbao has been brilliant in the past two years. Magnus Cort is a highly-rated versatile rider, Hirt is still improving as a climber, and much is expected of Ballerini. They still have their chief breadwinners but, overall, you'd have to say Astana are weakened.

Analysis: In losing Vincenzo Nibali, who they refused to offer a two-year contract, Bahrain-Merida bid farewell to the talisman around whom the team was created in 2016. That first cycle, which saw victory at Milan-San Remo and podiums at the Giro and Vuelta, is now over, and 2020 represents something of a new dawn. McLaren are coming on board to lend technical expertise as well as increased funds, while the most important transfer here perhaps doesn't even involve a rider: Rod Ellingworth joins as manager after several years as performance director at Team Ineos and will be expected to put a fresh stamp on the team.

Ellingworth's success will, in part, be judged according to Cavendish, his old protégé at British Cycling. The 34-year-old sprinter has 30 Tour de France stage wins to his name but has won just two races in the past three years. Can he rebound from his health issues to rediscover his powers of old, or is he, as those he's out to disprove claim, 'finished'? The signing of Cavendish, who has deep-rooted ties with both Ellingworth and McLaren, is perhaps justifiable simply from a marketing perspective, but there's surely greater ambition from all involved. If he can return to winning big races – such as, whisper it, Tour de France stages – it would be a remarkable achievement and story.

Elsewhere, Mikel Landa is Nibali's replacement as the team's marquee Grand Tour rider, now seemingly free of the hierarchal shackles he found at Astana, Sky and Movistar. Poels can also step up after shining as a luxury domestique at Ineos. The Dutchman is less tested as a Grand Tour leader but should at least be in the hunt for a number of week-long WorldTour races. Pello Bilbao is a quality acquisition. A good friend of his Basque compatriot Landa, the 29-year-old has found a new gear in the past couple of years, finishing sixth at the Giro last year before winning two stages this year.

Losing Bennett nevertheless remains a big blow, wth the Irishman having won 13 races in 2019, despite playing second fiddle to Sagan and Ackermann. Bora were able to manage his initial discontent and still get the best out of him but, in the midst of a legal dispute over a preliminary agreement on a new deal, they decided not to keep the rider against his will. They may yet regret it. They'll say Ackermann and Sagan give them ample options, but the fact they made a grab for Alvaro Hodeg suggests there is a hole in the roster.

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.