THEMOVE Podcast Summary
Episode: Are Cycling’s Mega Transfers Worth It? | Trades & Transfer | THEMOVE
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Spence Martin (with Johan Bruyneel & George Hincapie)
Main Theme:
A comprehensive, behind-the-scenes discussion of professional cycling’s blockbuster transfers for 2025-26. The panel assesses the rationale, cost, and potential impact of headline rider moves—particularly those with multimillion-euro buyouts—plus the strategic trade-offs teams face as budgets soar and competition intensifies.

Episode Overview

The panel dives deep into three of the cycling “offseason’s” most expensive and consequential transfers:

• Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe
• Juan Ayuso to Lidl-Trek
• Biniam Girmay to NSN Cycling (formerly Israel Premier Tech)

Beyond the headline moves, the hosts analyze broader trends: how mega deals are redefining team structures, why some squads are shunning the “Galáctico” approach, and how set-piece signings and creative recruiting strategies are reshaping the peloton.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe

[04:19] - [12:46]

• Structural Shift & Rationale

  • George: “If you can’t get Pogacar, you’ve got to go after Remco. They’ve got the biggest budget after UAE. If you got the money and you can afford to go after a guy like that, it’ll be a good thing.” (05:13)
  • Johan: “At Soudal, he was maxed out in terms of resources… A perfectionist like Remco, he now goes to an environment where, as he says, ‘all he needs to do is pedal his bike and everything else is organized for him.’” (06:15)

• Money, Expectation & Outcome

  • Spence: “I just can’t get my head around… a €7-8 million buyout plus €5 million a year salary. If you were spending that much, what would success be?” (09:27)
  • Johan: “He needs to win a big one-day race, an iconic one-week stage race, and podium in a Grand Tour. World TT champ, that’s almost a given.” (10:31)

• Team Tactics & Potential Tension

  • Spence: “They just had a guy finish third at the Tour de France—now you have Remco. Neither of them’s going to win, so do the best you can and see what happens." (08:49)
  • Johan: “It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have Lipowitz—if you can’t win the Tour, cycling is not just about the Tour.” (12:46)
  • George: “Remco’s 25, still lots of room to improve. Maybe they’re banking on breaking through.” (11:41)

2. Juan Ayuso to Lidl-Trek

[17:33] - [22:53]

• Transfer Details & Significance

  • Spence: “Another theme here: a big buyout, he had a contract running. Cost them €10 million!” (19:08)
  • Johan: “It showed the commitment of Lidl to cycling… hard to imagine Ayuso not improving over the next two or three years.” (21:05)

• Opportunity, Pressures & Expectations

  • George: “He was fourth, fifth in line at UAE. With Lidl-Trek, he’s the lead GC rider. That’s going to do wonders for his confidence.” (21:21)
  • Johan: “Ayuso’s super interesting. You don’t get third at the Vuelta at 19 without pure class. There’s nobody else available.” (19:54, 24:50)
  • Spence: “What else could you do with €10 million? Maybe investment in youth, but those guys are just not there.” (24:50)

• Notable Quote:

  • Johan: “He had a great time at UAE… apologized for things he said in September. Then they asked about Lidl-Trek and he said, ‘Oh, it’s so much better.’” (23:02)

3. Biniam Girmay to NSN (formerly Israel Premier Tech)

[30:28] - [36:54]

• Deal Context & Career Restart

  • Spence: “He gets paid €2 million+, goes to NSN, has to switch teams anyway with the merger. At NSN, he’s the star.” (31:21)
  • Johan: “We don’t know his level for 2026, but remember, 2024 was a standout—green jersey, three Tour stages, still only 25 years old.” (32:08, 32:35)

• Streakiness & Team Stability

  • Spence: “He’s a bit of a streaky shooter. You compress the results but there were long periods without podiums.” (33:51)
  • Johan: “A lot of the inconsistency—maybe team worries, waiting for his Tour bonus which apparently never paid. Now, he won’t have to worry about all that.” (34:37)
  • George: “The moment you’re thinking ‘this team owes me money,’ do I really need to risk my life today? That can make it impossible to win.” (35:21)

4. Alternative Team Strategies: Ineos, Visma, Alpecin, Decathlon

[36:54] - [56:36]

• Ineos Avoids Big Buyouts

  • Spence: “Ineos were in talks for Ayuso and Remco, but instead signed Kevin Vauquelin (good TT, good climber) and may get Oscar Onley. Not spending tens of millions, but savvy moves.” (38:17, 43:27)
  • Johan: “If the UCI’s not approving your license for 3 years, you need a cash infusion. Selling Onley works out for everyone.” (40:03)
  • George: “Just those two moves—Vauquelin and Onley—would be really good for Ineos.” (43:27)

• Visma’s Pragmatic Shedding & Development Focus

  • Spence: “Visma mostly shedding expensive riders, not signing big money stars, but bringing in key talents like Louis Barré, developing young British star Matthew Brennan.” (45:38, 50:01)
  • Johan: “If you look at Visma, second at the Tour but won the Giro and the Vuelta… as long as Wout is back, they’re set.” (50:56)
  • George: “All your stars are 30 or older—got to start estate planning!" (51:51)

• Decathlon’s Young Talent Recruitment

  • Johan: “Signing Olaf Kooij is one of the transfers of the year, three million per year. Takes pressure off Paul Seighos. Decathlon spending a lot, and smartly.” (46:17)

• Alpecin’s Salary Strategy

  • Johan: “Alpecin had to let riders go—other teams offered triple salary to older mid-tier riders. That’s just smart payroll management.” (53:48, 55:19)
  • Spence: “You’re either a superstar, a winner, or you work for them. No expensive aging domestiques.” (55:43)

5. Other Major Moves & Speculation

• Derek Gee’s Next Team

  • Johan: “I can say it—he’s going to Lidl-Trek, you’ll see.” (58:07)
  • Spence: "Interesting… speaks to Lidl-Trek wanting to be present in all the big races." (59:04)

• Soudal Quick-Step Doubling Down on Classics

  • Spence: “They lose Remco but bring in Dylan van Baarle, Jasper Stuyven, Filippo Zana. Love that move.” (62:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mega Transfers:

  • Johan: “It’s a big gamble, in my opinion—but I am convinced Remco had to try something new and I think Red Bull is probably the best option for him.” (08:03)

• On New Mega Sponsorships:

  • George: “We’re witnessing the whole game change right now... If you’re an American getting fourth place in the Tour, you have to pay up for that.” (44:30)

• On Managing Team Hierarchies:

  • Johan: “It’s not a bad thing to have two leaders. Look at Visma with Roglic and Jonas. Good thing they did, Jonas became their star.” (12:46)

• On Streaky Riders:

  • George: “The moment you’re thinking this team owes me money, do I really need to risk my life here at this one?” (35:21)

• On Salary Inflation:

  • Spence: “These numbers are crazy… we haven’t seen €10 million buyouts ever before.” (21:21)

• Comic Relief:

  • Johan: “If you ever see me put a number on my back, you’re entitled to pull me off that bike!” (65:28)

Selected Timestamps for Important Segments

• Remco to Red Bull-Bora Deep Dive: [04:19] – [17:16]
• Ayuso to Lidl-Trek: [17:33] – [24:50]
• Girmay to NSN: [30:28] – [36:54]
• Ineos’ Alternative Strategy: [36:54] – [44:09]
• Visma’s and Decathlon’s Approach: [45:38] – [51:51]
• Alpecin Payroll Logic: [53:48] – [56:36]
• Derek Gee Rumor & Finale: [58:07] – [62:32]

Tone & Style

Lively, irreverent, and sharply analytical. The trio repeatedly return to the tension between spending big for established stars versus gambling on youth and structure. The conversational style mixes deep insider knowledge (Johan’s team management anecdotes, George’s rider perspectives) with frequent banter and a candid, sometimes skeptical view on the sport’s spiraling finances.

Summary Takeaway:
2025/26’s mega transfers—Remco to Red Bull-Bora, Ayuso to Lidl-Trek, Girmay to NSN—reflect cycling’s changing economic landscape and the new playbook for success. As big teams splash out unprecedented sums on talent, others seek leverage in youth development and canny secondary signings. The consensus: mega deals are risky but, sometimes, necessary to stay at the sport’s sharp end. The season ahead promises a shake-up—with more volatility, ambition, and a sport in flux on multiple fronts.