August marks the start of professional cycling’s official transfer period, the only time a UCI World Team may recruit riders. From August 1-15th, new pro riders and those with expiring contracts have the opportunity to sign to a new team. For any change of team between two seasons, the transfer period extends from August 1 to December 31st. 

Confirmed Transfers

Although transfers are not officially signed until August first, a few moves have already been confirmed. 18 year-old Elise Uijen has signed a two-year contract with Team DSM. Uijen is the 2020 Netherlands ITT National and European Continental Champion. 

Team DSM has also signed German John Degenkolb, who rode for the program from 2012-2016.. Degenkolb has been a member of Lotto Soudal the last two years and has won stages in all three Grand Tours, with ten stages and the points classification at the Vuelta a España, one stage of the Giro d'Italia, and one stage in the Tour de France. 

Belgian national champion Lotte Kopecky has left Liv Racing and will be joining SD Worx for a three-year contract starting in 2022. 

Rumored and Anticipated Transfers

Cofidis has confirmed their interest in French sprinter Bryan Coquard, as a replacement for  Elia Viviani who will leave the team at the end of the 2021 season. 

Trek-Segafredo will be parting ways with Vincenzo Nibali at the end of this year. Team manager Luca Guercilena says Nibali and the team have differences and he expects Nibali to leave. “He’s been linked a lot with Astana-Premier Tech, so I think he’s going that way,” Guercilena said.

Spanish media has reported that Marc Soler will sign a contract with UAE Team Emirates after seven years with Movistar. Since transfers can’t be official until August 1st, Soler has been tightlipped about the potential team change. “I can’t say anything special about it now,” says Soler. “There are several options, including renewal at Movistar. It is true that the door has opened a little more this year, but I am not ruling out any option.”

Australian Rohan Dennis, according to La Gazetta’s Ciro Scognamiglio, will not be renewing with Ineos Grenadiers; teams rumored to be interested in him include Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates. 

Per the Dutch newspaper, Wielerflits, Jumbo-Visma is interested in having Christophe Laporte on their 2022 roster. 

Peter Sagan will be leaving Bora-Hansgrohe at the end of a five year contract and wants to take up to eight teammates with him. According to french newspaper, L'Équipe, both Total Direct Energie and Israel Start Up Nation are interested in the three-time world champion. It is expected that Sagan will sign with Total Direct Energie, and will bring his long-time bicycle sponsor, Specialized along with him.

Other high-profile riders rumored to be switching teams or re-signing contracts with their current teams include: Geraint Thomas, Mikel Landa, Sam Bennett, João Almeida, Kasper Asgreen, Dan Martin, Wout Poels, Matej Mohoric, Pello Bilbao, Benjamin Thomas, Mikel Nieve, Esteban Chaves, George Bennett, Alberto Bettiol, Sergio Higuita, Gianni Moscon, Davide Formolo, Alexander Kristof, Ivan Sosa and Jai Hindley.

Riders To Retire

2021 will see the end of career for many top cyclists, as well. During the 2021 Tour de France, André Greipel announced his retirement from professional cycling, thus ending a 19-year career. 

American Tejay Van Garderen announced his retirement from professional cycling also this year after competing in the ITT USA Nationals.

World Champion Anna Van Der Breggen and Trek-Segafredo’s Ruth Winder also announced the end of their professional careers.