Where will Egan Bernal wind up in 2027? Photo courtesy of SWpix.

At the end of September, Tudor Pro Cycling announced that Michael Storer had signed a two-year contract extension. The Australian still had a year remaining on his previous deal, but the extra two years, not to mention the likely improvements to his 2026 terms, were a smart move for the Swiss team.

It’s becoming increasingly common for teams to renegotiate with their high-profile riders well before the final year of their current contracts and settle on new terms. This strategy helps ensure a rider’s longevity within the squad, assists the team in safeguarding their star assets by reinforcing the roster, provides assurances to sponsors, and simultaneously wards off interest from rival teams.

In this article, we have identified 12 high-profile riders to watch. They all have one year remaining on their current contracts and could be signed by rival teams in the coming months or accept offers of new contracts from their existing teams.

It’s staggering that, despite so many teams requiring a high-profile sprinter at the start of 2025 – Ineos, Bahrain, and Jayco – no teams signed Kaden Groves. Here was a ready-made Grand Tour stage winner, capable of leading the line in semi-classics and races like Milan-San Remo. In the end, Groves was wise to stay, even though he was always behind Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen in the pecking order, with two Grand Tour stage wins this year. But next season, with Groves in the final year of his current contract, there is bound to be a market for him.

As we know, Alpecin-Deceuninck aren’t exactly flush with cash, but the situation is reportedly stable for next year; however, a big offer from another WorldTour team with guaranteed leadership might be enough to tempt Groves, who is going into his fourth year with the squad. Much will depend on how the first few months of next season unfold and if Alpecin-Deceuninck can secure the Australian before teams declare their interest, but his agents will surely test the market if Groves is even slightly interested in a move.

Follow me on: Twitter 🟢 — Instagram 🔴 — Bluesky 🔵