Arise, King KĂ©vin of Ineos. Photo courtesy of SWpix.

Hi Subscribers,

Our second story of the day focuses on another batch of cycling transfers that have recently been announced.

We’re looking at Kévin Vauquelin’s move to Ineos Grenadiers, and what it means for his progression and his future team, while there’s also further analysis over Cian Uijtdebroeks’ shock move from Visma to Movistar, Megan Jastrab heading to UAE Team ADQ, Robyn Clay moving to the WorldTour with Picnic PostNL and Gregor Mühlberger’s switch to Decathlon CMA CGM.

Have a great day, and don’t forget the XDS Astana story from this morning if you’ve not read that.

Daniel 🫶

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Kévin Vauquelin 🇫🇷
From: ArkĂ©a – B&B Hotels
To Ineos Grenadiers
Contract length: Three years

It’s a three-year contract, though, to be honest, it feels like we’ve been discussing this transfer for the last three years. Nonetheless, it’s finally done, and Brailsford has officially announced the rider’s arrival for the start of the 2026 season. In reality, this deal was agreed upon before Brailsford’s return to the team this summer, but the fact that his quotes were included in the press release, rather than those of Scott Drawer and John Allert, which are usually at the forefront of such news, is revealing. It suggests that Brailsford’s influence within the team is growing and reinforces our earlier reports that he’s taken complete control over the team’s transfer strategy. For comparison, during the initial transfer announcement last month, Drawer was chosen to speak about Dorian Godon.

Regarding Vauquelin’s arrival, it’s undoubtedly a significant signing for the team. The 24-year-old French cyclist faces the immediate challenge of recovering from a fractured ankle, but his 2025 season demonstrated his development as a rider. He finished seventh in the Tour de France with a struggling team, was second in the Tour de Suisse, and also second in La Flèche Wallonne. There were several victories in smaller races as well, and his versatility will be crucial for Ineos’ return to the top of the rankings.

What will be really interesting to see is how Brailsford utilises Vauquelin. Is Vauquelin really a genuine podium contender for the Tour de France, or is he a rider who could become a super domestique if Brailsford can make some more moves in the transfer market? Vauquelin isn’t in the same league as Pogačar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard, but he’s definitely among the riders just below that level, especially considering he’s probably not reached his full potential yet.