Big changes: Niewiadoma to Lidl-Trek? Decathlon entering women cycling?

While this season has been relatively stable in terms of transfers, the rumors for next year are already starting to heat up! The first rider to spark talk about her future is one of the sport's biggest stars, Kasia Niewiadoma. The Polish athlete has been with Canyon//SRAM since 2018; however, with her contract set to expire at the end of this year, there are reports of strong interest from Lidl-Trek. It remains difficult to say whether this move will materialize, especially considering the role of "Zondacrypto" among Canyon//SRAM's sponsors. As an ambassador for the Polish company, Niewiadoma is an icon of Polish sport, and the brand would likely be reluctant to see her leave. On the other hand, Canyon//SRAM seems forced to make some roster moves, as Dygert, Consonni, Ludwig, and Z. Bäckstedt are also all reaching the end of their contracts.

Regarding the teams, following the rumors from a few weeks ago involving Red Bull and FDJ-Suez, new reports suggest that Decathlon-CMA CGM might launch its own women’s team. The project is expected to start with a ProTour license, aiming to be competitive at the Tour de France by 2029-2030. The strategy appears to be building from the ground up to reach the top, emulating the successful blueprint of the FDJ project.