Blazin' Saddles: The high-profile transfers and retirements of 2016
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Updated 09/12/2016 at 08:28 GMT
On the move or checking out? Felix Lowe takes a look at the big moves ahead of the 2017 cycling season and runs through the high profile retirements from the past 12 months.
Slovakia's Peter Sagan celebrates after winning the men's elite road race event as part of the 2016 UCI Road World Championships on October 16, 2016, in the Qatari capital Doha
Image credit: AFP
We first took a look at the unluckiest riders of 2016 and the biggest shocks of the cycling season; we then discussed the surprise packages, unsung heroes and breakthroughs of 2016. Now, after a perhaps controversial peep at the underachievers and must-do-betters of the year, we turn our thoughts to those bidding farewell to the pro peloton and those tackling a fresh challenge at pastures new.
One thing's for sure at Trek-Segafredo: it's out with the old in Fabian Cancellara, Ryder Hesjedal, Frank Schleck and Yaroslav Popovych, and in with the, er, slightly less old with Alberto Contador. The Spanish multiple Grand Tour winner put his own retirement on hold to try and revive his career with two more years at Trek, where he'll be joined by German classics specialist John Degenkolb in another of the big name transfers this winter.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the key switches of the off-season before shifting focus to those who are riding away into the sunset...
Key Transfers
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff to Trek-Segafredo)
It would be wonderful to see Contador succeed at his new team if only to see the reaction of his former boss Oleg Tinkov, who labelled the Spaniard a "lame duck" during their acrimonious split. Without a Grand Tour stage win since 2014, the 34-year-old has it all to do: now largely an anachronism on the roads of France, Contador would be better off targeting a third Giro.
Intrigue rating: 4/5
Chance of success: 3/5
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Tinkoff rider Alberto Contador of Spain reacts on the finish line.
Image credit: Reuters
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff to Bora-Hansgrohe)
Given the hilly nature of the world championships course in Bergen next year, the Slovakian sensation could well sport rainbow stripes for a third successive year come September. Before that, expect more of the same: a monument win, a green jersey, a dozen or so sprint wins, and some dubious hairstyling, puzzling interviews and madcap videos. Oh, throw in a few wheelies, too.
Intrigue rating: 4/5
Chance of success: 5/5
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101616 ITW Sagan DE
Image credit: Eurosport
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana to Bahrain-Merida)
You can hardly blame Nibali for wanting out of Astana after the trials and tribulations of the past two years – and you can hardly lambast him for accepting a huge pay cheque to join the sport's newest WorldTour team with an owner of lamentable provenance. Sticky bidons aside, he remains one of the biggest stars in cycling and has too much class to do cycling's equivalent of joining the Chinese Super League when just 32. A duel against former team-mate Fabio Aru in the centenary Giro could well prove the crowning moment of his career – or be the beginning of the end.
Intrigue rating: 5/5
Chance of success: 3/5
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Vincenzo Nibali, Rio 2016, AFP
Image credit: Getty Images
Ion Izaguirre (Movistar to Bahrain-Merida)
A canny move for the Spaniard, who must have grown tired of polishing Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde's boots at Movistar. With Nibali getting no younger and Joaquim Rodriguez unlikely to actually race, Izaguirre could flourish with his elevated responsibility. An emerging force in week-long stage races, Izaguirre has yet to prove himself as a Grand Tour contender – although his stage 20 triumph last year could be a taste of better things to come.
Intrigue rating: 3/5
Chance of success: 3/5
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Ion Izaguirre (Movistar) wins stage 20 of the Tour de France
Image credit: Eurosport
Philippe Gilbert (BMC to QuickStep)
There once was a time when PhilGil was synonymous with punchy uphill sprint finishes – especially those involving the Cauberg. That time has passed.
Intrigue rating: 1/5
Chance of success: 2/5
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Philippe Gilbert (BMC) ne participera pas au prochain tour de France
Image credit: AFP
Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange to Sunweb-Giant)
With Orica all of a sudden a team with GC aspirations, "Bling" became dulled last season – especially with the emergence of Caleb Ewan in the sprints and the contract extension of his frenemy Simon Gerrans. With Giant losing John Degenkolb, this move made perfect sense. Just 26 and with scalps in all three Grand Tours, Matthews is still developing as a rider. The culture change won't be easy, mind.
Intrigue rating: 4/5
Chance of success: 3/5
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Australia's Michael Matthews celebrates as he crosses the finish line
Image credit: AFP
John Degenkolb (Sunweb-Giant to Trek-Segafredo)
No-one can blame Degenkolb for wanting to draw a line under the horror and disappointment of last season by taking on a fresh challenge. With Cancellara's retirement making Trek a bit thin up top, Degenkolb, himself a bit thin up top despite years of Alpecin treatment, has huge shoes to fill. Although showcasing his petulant side during that notorious bidon-squirt incident during the Worlds, a return to his 2015 form would bring a smile to most fans' faces.
Intrigue rating: 4/5
Chance of success: 3/5
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John Degenkolb
Image credit: Eurosport
Tony Martin (QuickStep to Katusha)
German powerhouse Martin is mixing things up with this move to Katusha, swapping blue and black for various shades of red at the former Global Russian Cycling Project sanctuary. It will take some getting used to and it remains to be seen what kind of schedule the 31-year-old adopts. But wouldn't it be amusing if Martin got over his aversion to the classics and defied his old employers with a big win in Belgium or over the cobbles of northern France...
Intrigue rating: 3/5
Chance of success: 4/5
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2016, Tony Martin, AFP
Image credit: AFP
Other transfers to consider...
Ben Swift (Team Sky to TJ Sport): Will the baby-faced Brit finally win big or continue his bridesmaid's billing in Milan-San Remo and beyond?
Diego Rosa (Astana to Team Sky): Could the Italian be the next Wout Poels or will he struggle to adapt as life as a domestique like his former (and now reunited) team-mate, Mikel Landa?
Wilco Kelderman (Lotto-JumboNL to Sunweb-Giant): The Dutch youngster could dovetail nicely alongside compatriot Tom Dumoulin and Frenchman Warren Barguil.
Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo to Lotto Soudal): Andre Greipel's heir apparent, the man to let Jens Debuscherre off the leash, or someone to target those ninth-place finishes?
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Moreno Hofland
Image credit: Imago
Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural to Cannondale-Drapac): Pallid yet promising British climber could benefit from the convivial atmosphere chez JV after a troubled, but invaluable, Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta.
Lachlan Morton (Jelly-Belly Maxxis to Dimension Data): The achingly cool Australian clearly has the talent, but is he psychologically up to the challenge to a return to the big time? Morton's certainly chosen the right team to bring out the best in him and thrust him back into contention.
Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff to Orica-BikeExchange): Largely off the boil since his Amstel Gold win in 2013, the Czech 30-year-old will add support in the mountains to Esteban Chaves and the Yateses. Could well enjoy something of an Indian summer should things pan out well.
Major retirements of 2016
Fabian Cancellara: Winning an Olympic gold medal would have eased the embarrassment of crashing on his lap of honour in the Roubaix velodrome. The Swiss leaves the sport as one of the most feted riders of his generation – and holds the record for the number of days in yellow without winning the Tour.
Don't mention: Clasicomano Luigi and motors
Career: 5/5
Final year: 3/5
Missability: 4/5
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Fabian Cancellara (SUI) of Switzerland poses with the gold medal.
Image credit: Eurosport
Ryder Hesjedal: Surprise winner of the 2012 Giro d'Italia before being engulfed in a doping storm thanks to the big mouth of Michael Rasmussen, the Canadian has always split opinions of those who are bothered to have an opinion about a man with such poor taste in sunglasses.
Don't mention: EPO and Synacthen
Career: 3/5
Final year: 1/5
Missability: 2/5
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Cannondale-Garmin rider Ryder Hesjedal of Canada reacts at the finish line of the 110.5-km (68.6 miles) 20th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Modane to Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps mountains, France, July 25, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
Frank Schleck: A stage win in the 2015 Vuelta masked the fact that Schleck had long since checked out of the realms of relevance at the top table. Both Schleck and his brother Andy never really nailed riding together, nor did they finesse competing without one another. Moments of pizzazz were reached only after wading through a sea of frustrations, angled limbs and downhill inability.
Don't mention: Swiss bank accounts and Schleck senior's car
Career: 3/5
Final year: 0/5
Missability: 2/5
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Frank Schleck (Trek) a remporté la 16e étape de la Vuelta 2015.
Image credit: AFP
Bradley Wiggins: Sir Brad has been registered for 2017 and so we could still get another year of his dithering – although probably only on the track. Things have been winding down for a while now, most notably on the road where – to be fair – he hasn't put in a decent shift since winning the Tour and flirting with Paris-Roubaix.
Don't mention: The mystery package
Career: 5/5
Final year: 3/5
Missability: 3/5
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British cyclist Bradley Wiggins (L) competes in the Madison race on the first day of the London Six Day 2016 cycling event at the Lee Valley VeloPark in east London on October 25, 2016
Image credit: AFP
Joaquim Rodriguez: Like Wiggo (but more likeable), Purito can't seem to make up his mind. Despite signing back on at Bahrain-Merida, it's unlikely we'll see him in many major races after a first winless season since 2005.
Don't mention: Florence, Alejandro Valverde and bottling it
Career: 4/5
Final year: 1/5
Missability: 4/5
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Katusha rider Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain celebrates on the podium after winning the 195-km (121.16 miles) 12th stage of the 102nd Tour de France
Image credit: Reuters
Also bowing out...
Former Lance Armstrong lieutenant Yaroslav Popovych called it a day back in April before taking up DS duties with Trek-Segafredo. Heart conditions called time on the careers of both Mick Rogers – as early as January – and Johan Vansummeren, the surprise 2011 Paris-Roubaix champion.
New Zealand's Jesse Sergent, victim of one of the early race vehicle-related incidents that have blighted the sport in recent times, never really recovered from his 2015 crash and has now checked out, while a series of head injuries forced the German climber Dominik Nerz to retire, too.
Runner-up in the 2014 Tour before a nasty meat-and-two-veg-revealing crash did for his chances one year later, Jean-Christophe Peraud's relatively short pro career came to an end at the age of 39. Meanwhile, Matt Goss, unable to refind the form that won him Milan-San Remo in 2011, sensibly called it a day after battling it out for Pro-Conti scraps.
Canada's Christian Meier shifts from cyclist to coffee impresario, amiable American journeyman Phil Gaimon looks towards happier times hosting a TV cycling travel show, while dependable Spaniard Xabier Zandio has called it quits and, unlike many of his peers, no desire to stay in cycling in any capacity. And who can blame him, really?
And finally, the sport has lost one of its long-serving climbing domestiques in Sylwester Szmyd, the 38-year-old Pole who racked up 23 Grand Tours in his time while largely burying himself in the service of others. It's now Kit-Kat time, Sylwester – you've earned it.
Anyone for any more? Have your say below – who will you miss next year and which riders are you excited about watching ride for another team? Next week, we take a look at the defining moments of the 2016 season.
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