We take a closer look at all the big transfers in the cycling world as teams prepare for the 2012 season.
All the latest big developments in the cycling world
One of the most active transfer windows in recent memory is drawing to a close with the final pieces of the puzzle likely to fall into place over the coming weeks.
An already crowded market has been flooded with riders after the most successful team of recent years, HTC-Highroad, was forced to wind down after failing to find a sponsor for next season.
With so many high profile riders searching for new homes and a number of mergers among WorldTour squads, 2012 looks set to see the birth of a new breed of super team.
With riders collecting vital WorldTour points throughout the year, many squads have taken to stockpiling talent ahead of the new season in a bid to propel themselves up the rankings.
BMC Racing
Not content with a Tour de France victory courtesy of Cadel Evans in 2011, BMC Racing set about bolstering their spring classics roster by signing not one but two of the biggest names in the sport. Widely acknowledged as the hottest property in cycling, Philippe Gilbert makes the high-profile switch to the Swiss-American outfit as he bids to build on one of the most stunning seasons in recent memory.
The team also moved for 2010 World Champion Thor Hushovd, a rider synonymous with the cobbled classics as well as winning stages at the Tour de France. The Norwegian was believed to be unhappy at not being granted leadership in the spring by his Garmin-Cervelo squad, making a potential power struggle between two cycling giants one of the most intriguing storylines ahead of a new season.
Belgian business
The surprise announcement mid-season that the co-sponsors of the Belgian Omega Pharma-Lotto squad would go their separate ways saw the birth of two new teams for 2012. Lotto joined forces with bike manufacturer Ridley to create Lotto-Ridley while Omega Pharma merged with the existing Quick Step squad.
The latter has been on a recruitment drive, adding a plethora of star names to a team that already included the likes of Tom Boonen and Sylvain Chavanel. From the disbanding HTC-Highroad arrive Bert Grabsch, Matt Brammeier, Frantisek Rabon, brothers Peter and Martin Velits as well as, most significantly, World Time Trial Champion and winner of Paris-Nice Tony Martin. Yet another general classification contender arrives in the form of American Levi Leipheimer, with young talents Michal Kwiatkowski and Brit Andy Fenn arriving to bolster one of the most well-rounded teams in the peloton.
With the sought-after Gilbert plumping for neither of the Belgian squads, Lotto still landed a coup in luring Grand Tour contender Jurgen Van Den Broeck and 2011 Tour stage winner Jelle Vanendert across to the squad. The team also secured the services of a world-class sprinter as German Andre Greipel nailed his colours to the Lotto mast.
A controversial and last-minute merger of the year-old Leopard Trek outfit and Team RadioShack has seen staff and riders scrambling for new teams as two WorldTour squads are condensed down into one.
The majority of the Leopard riders look set to remain, albeit with a new man at the helm in Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France mastermind Johan Bruyneel, meaning what was once a fairly loyal core of RadioShack riders are finding new homes up and down the peloton.
Australian edge
New team on the block GreenEDGE have been laying the foundations for one of the most exciting teams in cycling, going all out for a WorldTour license with a strong core of Australian talent. Jack Bobridge, Cameron Meyer, Robbie McEwen, Simon Gerrans, Stuart O’Grady and sprinter Matthew Goss are just a few of the star names looking to fly the flag for Australia.
Team Sky have signalled their intention in stage races by not only re-signing Vuelta a Espana hero Chris Froome, but adding Richie Porte and Sergio Henao to their ranks. The team has again demonstrated its commitment to bringing on new talent with the acquisitions of neo-pros Luke Rowe and Salvatore Puccio.
Another team on the hunt for a place at the WorldTour table are Skil-Shimano. The Dutch squad has used the transfer period to capture some of the most exciting young talent in the sport. Top of the list is German sprinter John Degenkolb, fresh from a first season in the pro ranks in which he netted six victories. Patrick Gretsch, Ramon Sinkeldam, Tom Dumoulin and Tobias Ludvigsson will all represent a team with a strong eye on the future.
Despite a large number of completed deals there are still a few significant question marks as the season draws to a close. Speculation surrounds the future of provisional RadioShack-Nissan-Trek rider Fabian Cancellara, while the cycling world still waits for an announcement on the future of sprinter and newly-crowned World Champion Mark Cavendish.
