Transfer season has been a doozy, with all kinds of big moves. (And maybe more, there are rumours that Primož Roglič–the Slovenian vet and now Euro TT champ, may return to his ole stomping grounds at Visma-Lease a Bike.
There were a few big moves that seemed to come out of left field, despite there being some chatter leading up to official announcements. One of the shockers was Filippo Ganna’s move to Lidl-Trek, particularly because the Italian still had a year left on his contract with Netcompany Ineos.
There was also Giulio Ciccone’s move away from Osgoode, Ont.’s Derek Gee-West’s team to join Pinarello 36.5 Ciccone will definitely be a huge asset to the squad of Tom Pidcock and Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Que.’s Nick Zukowsky.
Geraint Thomas on Ganna
The long-running British team–that was once dominant as Team Sky, winning all sorts of Grand Tours–hasn’t quite been the same in recent years, but they certainly have had some good TT results with Ganna and the young Brit chrono star, Josh Tarling.
In fact with Ganna’s departure, that may mean more freedom for the 22-year-old star. Tarling, who wore the white jersey at La Vuelta A España–in a brave ride just after losing his brother Fin, after a tragic collision at the Volta A Portugal, may be taking on a bigger role in the team now.
On Tarling
“Josh is obviously much younger and going into a road captain role as well,” Thomas said on his Watts Occurring podcast. “Both are great time trialists. They both have strengths and weaknesses, very similar. But can you afford to keep them both of them in the team? Ultimately, no.”
The two riders are both some of the best riders in the bunch when it comes down to TTs. That made it tough for Netcompany Ineos to keep both. Tarling has already delivered major results of his own. Even though he’s still quite young, he;s already taken a European time trial title and a stage dub at the Giro d’Italia.
Cash is king
In the end though, it all came down to moolah.
“Money is not a bottomless pit anymore,” Thomas said.
Ganna spent six years with Netcompany-Ineos. And he established himself as one of the team’s most recognizable and successful riders. His leaving the WorldTour squad also marks the end of a long partnership with Thomas, both on the road and off. The former pro and Tour de France winner raced alongside the Italian during some of the biggest results of his career.
Ganna was part of the squad when Thomas finished third at the Tour de France and when the Welshman placed second and third overall at the Giro. (Speaking of Roglič, remember the 2023 edition? What a final TT.)
“I was sad to see him go. He’s a great guy,” Thomas said.
Ganna has signed with Lidl-Trek through 2029.