As we come into November, there are still hundreds of riders who have yet to sign for a team or announce their signing for the 2024 season.
Our weekly transfer round-up puts all the rumors and confirmed transfers together in one place for you. In this second edition, we’ll cover what’s happened in the transfer world from October 28 to November 3, 2023.
Human Powered Health Women’s Squad Continues Overhaul With Three Strong Additions
Although the men’s side of Human Powered Health won’t be continuing past 2023, the women’s side has recently announced three signings that are sure to make an impact on the team next season.
The team had already announced four signings before this week in Maëlle Grossetête (FDJ-SUEZ), Krista Doebel-Hickok (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), Romy Kasper (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step), and Ruth Edwards.
With only two current riders, Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Alice Barnes, signed for 2024, it seems like the Human Powered Health squad is undergoing a major overhaul for next season.
The three new signings bring with them a slew of strong results from the 2023 season and many years of experience at the UCI level.
The first of the three signings is Italy’s Silvia Zanardi, who is making the jump from the Continental ranks to the WorldTour after spending five seasons with BePink-GOLD.
Zanardi has spent the last few years earning consistent results at the top level of the sport.
This year, Zanardi had two UCI wins, one early in the season at Gran Premio della Liberazione (1.2) and then at the back end of the season, taking the win on stage four of Tour de l’Ardèche (2.1).
Zanardi also brings two 10th-place stage finishes from the Giro d’Italia Donne (2.WWT).
Zanardi spoke of her many years with BePink-GOLD and her jump to the next level.
Zanardi is joined at her new team by a fellow Italian, Katia Ragusa (Liv Racing TeqFind).
The 26-year-old had a consistent season, but what truly stood out was her second-place finish at the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
Ragusa has shown to be a versatile rider, one that is crucial in stage races but can also get results in one-day classics.
The final addition to the Human Powered Health squad is young Swiss rider Linda Zanetti (UAE Development Team).
Zanetti has stood on the podium several times this year, including the top step at EPZ Omloop van Borsele, Swiss National RR Championships U23, and stage wins at Gracia (2.2), Princess Anna Vasa Tour (2.2), and Tour de l’Avenir (2.2U).
With nine riders currently on the 2024 squad, we expect to see further signings for the revamped Human Powered Health women’s squad in the coming days and weeks.
Astana Qazaqstan Bolsters Cavendish’s Support Squad with Two Local Riders
Astana Qazaqstan Team is beginning to truly take form after Mark Cavendish’s announcement to reverse his retirement decision in search of another Tour de France stage win.
This week, the team signed two Kazakh riders who will both be making the jump to the WorldTour from the Continental ranks.
24-year-old Daniil Marukhin (Vino SKO Team) will be coming to the team after a strong 2023 season.
Marukhin stood on the podium countless times throughout the season and took wins at Tour de Bostonliq I (1.2), Grand Prix Kültepe (1.2), and stage wins at Tour of The Republic (2.2) and Tour of Van (2.2).
Anton Kuzmin (Almaty Astana Motors), 26, will also be making the move from the Continental level but has previous experience at the ProTour level with Gazprom-RusVelo in 2020 and 2021.
Kuzmin brings years of experience to the team and also boasts two wins this season, including winning the Tour of Kandovan (1.2) and a stage win at the Tour of Thailand (2.2).
New kids on the block Hess Cycling Adds Experience For 2024
Having only formed in 2023, Luxembourgish outfit Hess Cycling Team is registering as a British team for the 2024 season.
With about half the current squad returning, they’ve announced four new signings this week.
Hess have brought in two riders from the Fenix-Deceuninck Continental squad: Ireland’s Imogen Cotter and Germany’s Laura Sübmilch.
Former Irish national champion Cotter, 30, hasn’t had much action in races over the last two seasons. Following a horrific crash that left lasting injuries, Cotter has built a strong social media presence as an advocate for cyclists’ safety.
As the former Irish national champion, however, she brings with her great potential and has shown good form when she has had opportunities to race.
Laura Sübmilch, 26, has shown consistency over the 2023 season and brings strong time-trialing skills to the team. Her best result this year was an 8th place in the Stage 3 time trial of Gracia (2.2).
Nicole Frain (Parkhotel Valkenburg) will be bringing her sprint skills to the team in 2024.
The former Australian national champion is a strong one-day racer and brings a sixth-place stage finish from Santos Tour Down Under (2.WWT) at the start of the season.
The final addition to the team this week was Swedish rider Clara Lundmark (GT Krush Rebellease Pro Cycling).
A strong sprinter, Lundmark had a slew of strong results during the early season one-day races. Her most promising result this season was a second-place finish in the Swedish national championships road race.
Confirmed Cycling Transfers: October 28 to November 3
Women’s Teams
- Silvia ZANARDI: BePink-GOLD → Human Powered Health
- Katia RAGUSA: Liv Racing TeqFind → Human Powered Health
- Linda ZANETTI: UAE Development Team → Human Powered Health
- Nicole FRAIN: Parkhotel Valkenburg → Hess Cycling Team
- Clara LUNDMARK: GT Krush Rebellease Pro Cycling → Hess Cycling Team
- Laura SÜBEMILCH: Fenix-Deceuninck Continental → Hess Cycling Team
- Imogen COTTER: Fenix-Deceuninch Continental → Hess Cycling Team
- Elina TASANE: WCC Team → AWOL O’Shea
- Alicia GONZÁLEZ: Movistar Team → Lifeplus Wahoo
Men’s Teams
- Anton KUZMIN: Almaty Astana Motors → Astana Qazaqstan Team
- Daniil MARUKHIN: Vino SKO Team → Astana Qazaqstan Team
- Georgios BOUGLAS: Matrix Powertag → Burgos-BH
- Jambaljamts SAINBAYAR: Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team → Burgos-BH
- Max MÄRKL: Rad-Net Oßwald → Storck-Metropol Cycling
- Kristian SBARAGLI: Alpecin-Deceuninck → Team Corratec-Selle Italia
- Harry TANFIELD: TDT-Unibet Cycling Team → Saint Piran
- Maximilian KABAS: WSA KTM Graz p/b Leomo → Team Hrinkow Advarics
- Germán Darío GÓMEZ: GW Shimano-Sidermec → EOLO-Kometa
- Embret SVESTAD-BÅRDSENG: Human Powered Health → Arkéa-B&B Hôtels Développement
- Hubert GRYGOWSKI: CIC U Nantes Atlantique → Arkéa-B&B Hôtels Développement
- Stefano MUSEEUW: Van Rysel-Roubaix Lille Métropole
- Oliver SØNDERGAARD: Team ColoQuick → Airtox-Carl Ras
- Adam LEWIS: Saint Piran → Team Skyline
- Francisco PEÑUELA: Israel Premier Tech Academy → Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista
- Nikolaj MENGEL: BHS-PL Beton Bornholm → Team ColoQuick
