THEMOVE+ Podcast Summary

Episode: Biniam Girmay's Uncertain Future, Tour Route Details & End of Season Rankings
Date: October 24, 2025
Host: Spencer Martin with Johan Bruyneel (Lance Armstrong referenced throughout, but not present in this episode)

Overview

In this lively, insider-heavy off-season episode, Spencer Martin and Johan Bruyneel dissect the recently unveiled 2026 Tour de France route, dive into the end-of-season team and rider rankings, and unravel chaotic team changes and the uncertain future for top Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay. The show maintains THEMOVE’s signature blend of deep strategic insights and candid storytelling, balancing humor, nostalgia, and a strong pulse on the state of pro cycling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2026 Tour de France Route Analysis

• Unexpected Brutality of Final Week:
  The hosts take a detailed look at the final mountain stages, emphasizing that stages 18-20 are "absolutely brutal" and could keep the GC battle alive until the very end.

  • Col de la Sarenne’s Difficulty: Stage 20 features over 5,600 meters of climbing in 171km, “by far the hardest stage” (06:37).
  • The new route up Alpe d’Huez (Col de Sarenne) is described as “narrow, hard, and currently horrible surface – it will have to be repaved” (07:05).
  • Stage Transfers: The logistical challenge of two summit finishes (Vosges and Alps) back to back, “those two places are like nowhere near each other. So that's going to be a tough transfer” (04:01).

• Racing Dynamics:
  Spencer and Johan agree the new Alpe d’Huez approach favors tactical racing:

  • “I've never thought of Alpe d’Huez as the hardest climb... It’s very famous, but you can get speed in the corners. There’s little moments of recovery.” — Johan (07:55)
  • Such a design “invites for accelerations, if they're really equal” (08:44).

• Iconic Memories & Fan Culture:

  • Reminiscence about Lance, Merckx, and Tour history, including Merckx’s infamous punching incident (11:14).
  • “It’s by far the rowdiest summit finish you'll ever see. 50% of them have been partying.” — Johan on Alpe d’Huez fans (10:06).

2. Season Ender: Team Rankings and Promotions Chaos

• Veneto Classic Recap & UCI Point Frenzy:

  • Unox secures WorldTour promotion thanks to a development rider's surprise win at the Veneto Classic, edging out Cofidis and sparking an in-depth look at UCI point strategy and promotion.
  • “This guy is actually still on the development team... It was his first win.” — Johan (15:03)

• Relegation/Promotion:

  • Israel Premier Tech, Unox, and Lotto are moving up. Cofidis is relegated but retains wildcard access to all major races due to their Division 2 ranking.
  • “They are entitled to race everywhere, but they don’t have the obligation to race everywhere, which is even better.” — Johan on wildcard teams (16:31)

• Team Sponsorship Shake-Ups:

  • Announcements of team sponsors changing (Q36.5 becoming Pinarello; questions about the fate of Scott and Cube as main bike sponsors) (19:00-20:06).
  • Multiple teams may share sponsors, with TotalEnergies and Pinarello supporting several squads, creating “a big mix” (17:59).

• Off-Season Now Virtually Nonexistent:

  • Team gatherings and preseason camps begin immediately after Il Lombardia, signaling an endless cycle for riders and staff.
  • “It’s becoming almost impossible because it has to be November or December. January is impossible…” — Johan (22:20)

3. Biniam Girmay’s Cloudy Future & Team Mergers

• Lotto & Intermarché Merger Chaos:

  • The merger is described as “a disaster in the making.” Riders and staff face last-minute job losses and unprecedented uncertainty (36:01).
  • Biniam Girmay’s contractual limbo: UCI appears to be blocking his release, but legal analysis suggests he’s likely free to leave due to the paying agent structure. He is all but confirmed to have already signed for the new Cycling Academy (formerly Israel Premier Tech):
    • “In my opinion, Girmay is free to leave… In any labor court, it's a five-minute discussion.” — Johan (37:45)
  • The team’s existential risks: “Why are they ever interested [in a merger]? It’s a disaster, but not really a disaster because [Cofidis] auto-qualifies...” — Spencer (15:48)

• Rider Movements:

  • Garben Thijssen likely headed to Alpecin at a bargain, thanks to a contract-sharing deal (36:01).
  • Broader implications for teams unable to provide job security as the sponsor landscape consolidates.

4. Other Team & Sponsorship Developments

• Alpecin–Deceuninck’s Strategy:

  • The Roodhooft brothers continue to avoid “the middle class”—focusing on high-value leaders and cheap helpers, and benefit as Deceuninck renews unexpectedly:
    • “They're playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.” — Spencer (42:03)
    • “If you have GC guys, you have to change the whole structure.” — Johan, on why more teams don’t follow suit (43:18)

• Sponsorship Tactics:

  • Brands like Pinarello, Scott, and Cube are scrambling for top teams; Specialized and Pinarello remain the key multi-team sponsors (18:09-19:35).
  • “If you’re a big brand, you kind of have to be sponsoring a first division team.” — Johan (19:00)

5. National Championships & UCI Points Quirks

• Isaac del Toro’s Mexican Heroics:
  • Mexican National Championships held atypically in October due to federation upheaval; the points from Del Toro’s time trial win reportedly count toward the 2026 season, not 2025.
    • "This is the first win race of UAE for 2026." — Johan (30:14)
    • Fans and chaos: “Isaac del Toro in Mexico is a hero right now. He’s God.” — Johan (00:00, repeated at 27:54)
  • UAE’s dominance in wins/points is staggering—almost double their nearest rivals in both wins and UCI points (30:49-31:33).

6. Race Organization & Calendar Changes

• Tour of Holland and Other Races:
  • Revival of Tour of Holland faces logistical headaches from stricter Dutch policing.
    • “It was a bit of a mess... very late in the season, but still good racing.” — Johan (34:03)
  • Tour de Suisse shrinks to just five days—a sign of calendar tightness and shifting sponsorships (69:52).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Tour Route Logistics:
  “That last week is absolutely brutal. I don’t think I fully digested this.” — Spencer (04:01)

• On Alpe d’Huez’s Reputation:
  “I've never thought of Alpe d’Huez as the hardest climb... It’s very famous, but you can get speed in the corners.” — Johan (07:55)

• On the Unending Offseason:
  “It's so hard to have a sustained career of excellence because that is exhausting—mentally, physically." — Spencer (24:04)

• On Team Sponsorship & Bike Brands:
  “It's a big mix... what's going to happen with Scott? Are they going to find another team to sponsor? This late in the season?” — Johan (18:09)

Audience Q&A Highlights

• Will Tour GC Holders Keep the Jersey the Whole Race?
  "As a team, you cannot. If you keep it without wanting to, that's always possible." — Johan (52:58)

• On Altitude Training Methods:
  “Sleeping in an altitude tent is not easy... it’s not fun. But it’s the future, I think so.” — Johan (64:41)

• On Primos Roglič’s Outlook:
  “Primos has gotten the maximum out of his career already. Primos is still one of the big dogs, but there’s a lot of young dogs now.” — Johan (62:06)

• On Giro/Vuelta vs. Tour de France Value:
  “If you ask Primos—give up two Vueltas for a Tour win? Yeah, straight away. Anybody would do that.” — Johan (66:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:41 — Isaac del Toro and Mexican Champs / Tour Route Overview
• 04:01–09:25 — Stage 14-20, Transfer Logistics, Alpe d’Huez analysis
• 13:24–16:31 — Veneto Classic recap, UNOX's WorldTour promotion, UCI points
• 17:33–21:32 — Team sponsorship merges/mix-ups
• 22:20–24:33 — Offseason camps and training intensity
• 27:43–31:23 — Mexican champs UCI points; UAE and Pogačar's dominance
• 36:01–38:44 — Lotto–Intermarché merger chaos, Girmay’s legal limbo
• 42:03–43:18 — Alpecin’s team-building “chess” strategy
• 54:02–56:10 — Tadej Pogačar’s racing style, tactical advice
• 62:04–63:37 — Primos Roglič’s career trajectory and dreams
• 69:52–70:34 — Shortening of Tour de Suisse; racing calendar shifts

Conclusion

This THEMOVE+ episode offers a sprawling, insightful look into professional cycling’s shifting landscape as the 2025 season ends: from calendar and sponsorship upheaval to strategic nerdery and the uncertain fates of riders like Biniam Girmay. Spencer and Johan provide the kind of fast-paced, deeply informed banter that diehard cycling fans crave — and plenty of backroom vantage points on what’s coming next.