THEMOVE Podcast – Episode Summary

Why Is Biniam Girmay Going to NSN & Is INEOS Planning a Major Move?

Hosts: Spencer Martin & Johan Bruyneel
Date: December 5, 2025

Overview

This episode of THEMOVE dives into seismic off-season shifts and rumors in pro cycling, focusing on Biniam Girmay’s big-money transfer to the new NSN team, INEOS Grenadiers’ aggressive roster rebuild, shakeups in sponsorship, and the perennial puzzle of cycling’s financial model. Spencer Martin and Johan Bruyneel bring their inside perspectives, breaking down not just what’s happening, but why—debating Girmay’s value, INEOS's transfer strategy, Giro d’Italia route analysis, and the challenges of introducing a cost cap in cycling.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Biniam Girmay's Transfer to NSN Pro Cycling

• Rumors Become Reality: Girmay will join NSN Pro for 2026, following months of speculation—much of it predicted by hosts in prior episodes.
  • “[People were] texting me like, can you believe this happened? It’s like, yeah, because we talked about this on the show three months ago, but Biniam Girmay is officially joining NSN...” – Spencer (06:10)
• Contract Details:
  • Estimated at 3 years, north of €2 million per year—a significant jump from his Intermarché contract.
  • “It’s a pretty good name for that team. Although... it’s fair to say that Biniam didn’t have the greatest season in 2025 after his amazing 2024 season with three stage wins in the Tour and the green jersey.” – Johan (03:34)
• Motivation & Risks:
  • Move gives NSN identity and star power, but Girmay had a winless 2025 season.
  • Both hosts note the risk—has he plateaued, or was 2025 an anomaly?
  • “If you’re able to strike such a contract after a season that was far from good, I think that’s great [for the rider].” – Johan (05:38)

Timestamps:

• [02:45 – 06:57] Deep dive into Girmay’s transfer, contract, and Intermarché/Lotto turbulence.

2. Team and Sponsorship Shakeups at NSN

• Sylvan Adams’ Ongoing Influence: Though not officially involved, Adams remains financially crucial behind the scenes for 2026.
• Sponsorship Changes & Bike Suppliers:
  • NSN switches from Factor to Scott bikes.
  • Premier Tech departs NSN for Alpecin-Deceuninck; Decoeinck steps back but stays as a sponsor.
  • “Premier Tech... I would choose Alpecin in a heartbeat... associate with the program of the Roth brothers and with, you know, Mathieu van der Poel.” – Johan (13:33)
• Contractual Upheaval: Riders had to sign new contracts for 2026, enabling exits like Hugo Houle to Alpecin, potentially freeing Derek Gee to move (likely to INEOS).
  • “It’s safe to say that Derek Gee is not going to ride for NSN cycling team... pretty confident he’s going to ride for INEOS in 2026.” – Johan (12:29)

Timestamps:

• [09:14 – 13:17] Team camp insights, sponsorship news, and the contractual domino effect.

3. INEOS’s Big Game Hunting: Transfers & Strategy

• Derek Gee & Oscar Onley Rumors:
  • Derek Gee's expected to leave NSN for INEOS in 2026.
  • INEOS is also rumored to be courting Oscar Onley from DSM/PostNL, despite him being under contract.
  • “The only one right now [Brit available for INEOS] is Oscar Onley... I kind of think it would make sense.” – Johan (15:39)
• Team Philosophy:
  • INEOS seeking British/Scottish talent for leadership and identity.
  • Speculation that manager Ivan Spekenbrink at DSM has a “wheeler dealer” reputation—often selling stars for transfer fees and weakening the team over time.
    • “If you let your riders go, your team gets weaker and weaker, and... that team is one of the weakest, if not the weakest team in the World Tour.” – Johan (17:41)
• Will These Riders Perform?
  • Question of “selling high”—few riders leaving DSM improve elsewhere, except notable cases (e.g., Kittel at Quick-Step).

Timestamps:

• [15:04 – 19:56] Analysis of INEOS's transfer hunt, DSM’s business model, and rider performance post-transfer.

4. Giro d’Italia 2026 Route Reveal & Grand Tour Strategies

• Route Breakdown:
  • Starts in Bulgaria, features a 40km flat ITT, tough third week, summit finishes.
  • Designed to tempt time trialists and GC hopefuls—potentially favors Remco Evenepoel, but he’s likely Tour-focused.
• Probable Starters:
  • Isaac Del Toro (confirmed), Jonas Vingegaard (potential), Simon Yates (“most likely”).
• Who Wins?
  • Del Toro tipped as favorite if major contenders show up; Roglič could shift the balance.
  • Discussion of the added value for Vingegaard to chase a rare “win all three Grand Tours” accomplishment—only Merckx, Hinault, Anquetil, Gimondi, Froome, Contador, and Nibali have done so.
    • “That’s like the ultimate accomplishment—you know, there’s... so many riders who are doing everything they can to win a stage, let alone trying to win the overall of all three Grand Tours.” – Johan (39:11)

Timestamps:

• [31:29 – 41:14] Giro route analysis, strategic implications for contenders, and historic context for Grand Tour achievers.

5. Salary Cap & Pro Cycling’s Economic Model

• UCI President Floats Cost Cap:
  • Teams (including small ones) voted down the proposal, surprising the hosts.
    • “No owner or manager of a cycling team is able to have a long-term vision because they are by necessity focused on survival every single year.” – Johan (49:37)
• Why It’s Unworkable Right Now:
  • Lack of revenue structure (teams rely on annual sponsorship); US sports analogies highlight the contrast—franchise system, shared TV revenue, cost controls, and clear profit motives.
  • “Cycling needs to work on improving the health of the economy of cycling. And then start to think about making it more equal.” – Johan (46:57)
• Bigger Issues:
  • Teams and riders have no share in cycling’s major revenue stream: TV rights; inability to build long-term sustainability; constant survival-mode management.

Timestamps:

• [44:40 – 53:54] Salary cap debate, sports business models compared, and systemic problems in cycling.

6. Streaming & Access to Cycling Coverage

• Impending Streaming Shakeup:
  • Warner Bros. Discovery splits off TNT and Eurosport, putting cycling’s availability on HBO Max (especially in Europe) in jeopardy; could mirror UK's costly, fragmented model.
  • “These HBO Max easy days are over for us.” – Spencer (55:43)
• Fan Frustration: Hope for future dedicated streaming but possible return to GCN+ style service seems dim.

Timestamps:

• [53:58 – 56:39] Streaming industry upheaval and access risks for cycling fans.

7. Training Extremes & Pre-Season Culture

• Jonas Abrahamsen’s Massive Early-December Training:
  • Noted as “crazy”—highlighting the intensity and unpredictability of pro training culture.
  • “Does he know we’re still... it’s the beginning of December?” – Johan (57:18)
• Upcoming In-Person Show:
  • Hosts plan to meet and ride together on the Costa Blanca, adding a personal, playful note to the wrap-up.

Timestamps:

• [56:39 – 59:37] Pro rider training, host plans for live show.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Girmay’s NSN contract:
  “If you’re able to strike such a contract, a very lucrative contract after a season that was far from good, I think that’s great.” – Johan (05:38)

• On selecting between Arnaud De Lie and Girmay:
  “If I were running Lotto, you have to choose De Lie over Girmay.” – Johan (08:23)
  “Just between August 24th and September 20th, [De Lie] won five races. That’s impressive. He’s two years younger than Girmay.” – Spencer (08:37)

• On DSM’s endless revolving door of talent:
  “Team without identity... If you let your riders go, your team gets weaker and weaker. I think it’s safe to say that team is one of the weakest, if not the weakest, in the World Tour...” – Johan (17:41)

• Historic context – The ‘triple Grand Tour’ club:
  “That’s like the ultimate accomplishment... there’s so many riders who are doing everything they can to win a stage, let alone trying to win the overall of all three Grand Tours.” – Johan (39:11)

• On cycling’s broken economics:
  “No owner or manager of a cycling team is able to have a long term vision because they are by necessity focused on survival every single year.” – Johan (49:37)
  “It is unheard of that the main players of the sport, which are riders and teams, do not have any participation in the biggest revenue of the sport, which is the TV rights. That makes no sense. That needs to change first.” – Johan (53:22)

Flow & Tone

The episode is lively and conversational, blending expert skepticism with inside knowledge and a hint of mischief. The hosts mix in cycling nerdery (stats, team rosters, historical feats) with candid opinions and business savvy, maintaining a “deep insider” perspective aimed at hard-core cycling fans and industry watchers.

Key Timestamps

• 02:45–06:57: Girmay transfer discussion
• 09:14–13:17: NSN sponsorship and contracts shakeup
• 15:04–19:56: INEOS, Oscar Onley, and DSM analysis
• 31:29–41:14: Giro d’Italia 2026 route & contender strategy
• 44:40–53:54: Salary cap debate & cycling’s business model
• 53:58–56:39: Streaming/TV rights challenges
• 56:39–59:37: Training culture and host meet-up plans

For Cycling Insiders and Superfans

If you aren’t up to speed on pro cycling’s shifting sands this winter, this episode offers a fast-paced, insightful survey—from transfer market drama to the existential challenges facing teams. The commentary is loaded with historical context, skepticism about easy solutions, and wry humor about the peculiar world of top-level cycling.