It is worrying times for plenty former World Tour riders who have now entered 2026 and are officially without a contract. The list is not small either, as over 20 of them still have not officially retired but do not have a team for the time being. Adding to that, outside the World Tour, the likes of Derek Gee and Chris Froome for example do not yet know what is to be of their future.
Out of the 24 riders, it can be given as a certain that Juri Hollmann will remain in Alpecin-Deceuninck as a coach and staff member, but aside from that news are vague on the rest. Samuel Gaze is certain to continue his focus on mountain biking whilst likely departing the Belgian team.
The list includes Oier Lazkano who was provisionally suspended by the UCI, however is not forbidden from being signed by other teams. Movistar has both Ruben Guerreiro and Antonio Pedrero in positions of doubt on whether their careers continue; EF Education-EasyPost have said nothing on Hugh Carthy whilst the former Vuelta podium finisher is also in silence; Visma’s Julien Vermote wasn’t able to complete his goal of finding a new team at the tme being and the list also includes riders who have ultimately found themselves in trouble after the Lotto-Intermarché merger such as Dion Smith, Gijs van Hoecke and Kevin Colleoni.
On the ProTeam side things remain rather the same with no big moves announced recently. Derek Gee continues to not have a contract publicly, although in December it was rumoured that he was staying with Lidl-Trek during their training camp and this week it was also reported that it may be announced this coming week. Chris Froome remains on this list as he enters 2026 not having yet announced his retirement from the sport. 2025 World Tour riders without a contract for 20261 PASQUALON AndreaBahrain – Victorious385643322 CARTHY HughEF Education – EasyPost311037133 GUERREIRO RubenMovistar Team3116131154 SMITH DionIntermarché – Wanty3213224135 VERMOTE JulienTeam Visma | Lease a Bike364016506 PEDRERO AntonioMovistar Team347712857 LAZKANO OierRed Bull – BORA – hansgrohe261511738 COMBAUD RomainTeam Picnic PostNL345010049 VAN HOECKE GijsIntermarché – Wanty345597910 WALLS MatthewGroupama – FDJ2711446011 MACIEJUK FilipRed Bull – BORA – hansgrohe269245812 COLLEONI KevinIntermarché – Wanty265045013 RIES MichelArkéa – B&B Hotels273641014 HOLLMANN JuriAlpecin – Deceuninck261526815 HUBY AntoineSoudal Quick-Step2411626516 BERHE Welay HagosTeam Jayco AlUla24224117 STEWART CampbellTeam Jayco AlUla271721018 DAVY ClémentGroupama – FDJ275019619 ROOTKIN-GRAY JackEF Education – EasyPost233015120 PALZER AntonRed Bull – BORA – hansgrohe321514521 EPIS GiosuèArkéa – B&B Hotels237012122 LE HUITOUZE EddyGroupama – FDJ223411123 EDDY PatrickTeam Picnic PostNL236710424 GAZE SamuelAlpecin – Deceuninck301547
Derek Gee enters 2026 without a contract being made public yet
ProTeam riders without a contract for 2026 1 FROOME ChrisIsrael – Premier Tech4010146552 ABERASTURI JonEuskaltel – Euskadi367623193 GEE-WEST DerekIsrael – Premier Tech2873119184 JANSEN Amund GrøndahlUno-X Mobility31515605 TIZZA MarcoWagner Bazin WB333912316 DE TIER FlorisWagner Bazin WB333110077 VAN ROOY KennethWagner Bazin WB32139788 CARBONI GiovanniUnibet Tietema Rockets302159549 SCHWARZMANN MichaelIsrael – Premier Tech341578910 ERIKSSON LucasTudor Pro Cycling Team295868911 WEEMAES SashaWagner Bazin WB272757012 TSARENKO KyryloTeam Solution Tech – Vini Fantini2539349613 VAN DE PAAR JarneLotto2547614 CURRIE LoganLotto2410840915 VIVIANI AttilioTeam Solution Tech – Vini Fantini291339716 REYNDERS JensWagner Bazin WB272939617 VAN POUCKE AaronTeam Flanders – Baloise2731318 BABOR DanielCaja Rural – Seguros RGA26528619 ANGULO AntonioBurgos Burpellet BH334123320 FERNÁNDEZ Miguel ÁngelEquipo Kern Pharma284918821 SCALCO MatteoVF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè2110513422 INKELAAR KevinUnibet Tietema Rockets28511823 VILLA GiacomoWagner Bazin WB23439824 CLYNHENS ToonTeam Flanders – Baloise2494325 BIAGINI FedericoVF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè22103826 MATTHYS LoukaWagner Bazin WB262727 AZPARREN EnekoitzQ36.5 Pro Cycling Team232328 DELGADO DavidBurgos Burpellet BH25101729 KULSET MagnusUno-X Mobility25830 PHIPPEN LoganTeam Novo Nordisk33031 PERCRULE DoriandTeam Novo Nordisk260