Why contract terminations are the current trend according to Pogačar's agent: 'You can sulk about it'

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Remco Evenepoel from Soudal Quick-Step to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Primož Roglič from Visma | Lease a Bike to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Juan Ayuso from UAE to Lidl-Trek, Tom Pidcock from INEOS to Q36.5, and more recently Richard Carapaz (EF - NSN), Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS - Lidl-Trek), and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek - Pinarello). To name just a few examples, early transfers are everywhere.

What’s the story there? “First of all, the average contract length has increased significantly. As a result, the likelihood of conflicts—and even the termination of a long-term contract—has risen,” said Carera, in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The second reason is even more crucial, since if you want to terminate an existing contract, you not only have to negotiate with one team, but you also need to have another team lined up to sign you. Here’s the thing: until 5–6 years ago, in most cases, the team owners were also the team managers—often former cyclists. They lacked a long-term vision and didn’t want to risk fines for poaching riders from other teams,” he continues.

"UAE, Decathlon, Lidl, and Red Bull—to name just a few—are now the owners. They have a more management-oriented, long-term vision. "The cycling team is a major asset for the company or the fund, unlike in the past, when there was often no entrepreneurial vision," the agent notes. "And there’s more capital."

Carera sees one moment as a turning point: “Cian Uijtdebroeks’s early departure from BORA to Visma in December 2023.” A transfer that attracted a lot of media attention and involved two top teams was remarkable. Until then, an early contract termination occurred on average once every three years; now it happens about ten times a year.”

"What's more, the amount of capital has increased enormously: in 2020, a team with a budget of €25 million could be considered wealthy. Now, such a team would be among the five richest,” the source says. One rider, however, will be difficult to sign: Tadej Pogačar reportedly has a buyout clause of 100 million euros in his contract. "Because the amount is so high, the clause is almost symbolic: Tadej has transcended the boundaries of cycling."