Possible mega-merger: What will become of Evenepoel & Roglic?

It's as if Liverpool FC and Manchester City were to merge and form a superlative team in the future. Not possible? In cycling, such a construct is currently the hottest topic of conversation.

Bora-Hansgrohe as a possible profiteer

The Dutch top racing team Jumbo-Visma, which won all three grand tours (Tour, Giro, Vuelta) this year, and the traditional Belgian team Soudal - Quick Step are in concrete talks - with the result that there could be a major shake-up among the top stars in the industry. It would probably also open up new prospects for the German racing team Bora-Hansgrohe.

Roglic transfer would be a big coup for Bora-Hansgrohe

Former ski jumper Primoz Roglic, who won the Giro d'Italia for Jumbo this year, has already announced his departure after eight years. According to the Italian "Gazzetta dello Sport" his path leads to Bora-Hansgrohe. It would be a major coup for team boss Ralph Denk, who has been building up a team for the grand tours for years.

With Roglic, the Bavarian would have the missing piece of the puzzle, as the Slovenian is one of the best cyclists in the world. The 33-year-old has won the Spanish Vuelta a Espana three times and the Giro d'Italia this year. He was also on the brink of a major coronation at the Tour de France had his compatriot Tadej Pogacar not snatched the yellow jersey from him on the penultimate day of a dramatic individual time trial in 2020.

Can Bora-Hansgrohe afford Primoz Roglic?

Bora could provide Roglic with another opportunity that he no longer had with Jumbo-Visma. At the black and yellow team, everything is focussed on the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who justified his status with his second Tour triumph this year. Roglic does not come cheap. However, with the signing of three-time world champion Peter Sagan, team boss Denk, who could not be contacted by dpa, had already landed a coup with complicated financing in 2017. Roglic wants to announce his new team after the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday.

What's next for Remco Evenepoel?

The second big name in this transfer rumour is Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian time trial world champion in the service of Soudal - Quick Step wants to attack at the Tour de France for the first time next year - but certainly not as Vingegaard's noble assistant. Former Tour winner Geraint Thomas can hardly imagine that either. "Remco hates Jumbo and Jumbo hates Remco," said the Welshman recently in his podcast Watts Occurring.

It is quite possible that Evenepoel will take the place of 37-year-old Thomas at the Ineos racing team. Former Tour winner and Eurosport pundit Alberto Contador had already floated the idea during the World Championships in Glasgow. Evenepoel currently still has a contract with Soudal - Quick Step until 2026. However, if the two top teams were to merge, which would in fact be more of a takeover by Jumbo-Visma, the 23-year-old could probably move on a free transfer. A cycling agent has already let the French sports newspaper "L'Equipe" know that Evenepoel could sign a contract ready for signature within five minutes.

Ineos Grenadiers is missing the crucial piece of the puzzle

The British would be the logical address for Evenepoel. The former team of four-time champion Chris Froome offers the perfect environment for an attack on the Tour throne, only the top rider is still missing. Egan Bernal, winner of the 2019 Tour, is still a long way from the world's best since his serious training crash.

Not only winners in possible mega-merger

However, a merger of the two teams, which would then be called Soudal-Visma or vice versa, does not only have fans. Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe would find it "sad" if his Soudal - Quick-Step team were to disappear from the scene, because it has been "a team at the heart of cycling for many years with its own history". This year alone, the team, which once boasted the likes of Marcel Kittel, Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen, has already racked up 54 victories.

The reason for a possible merger is the withdrawal of co-sponsor Jumbo by the end of the 2024 season at the latest, and the UCI has already urged the two racing teams to honour their current contracts in the event of a potential deal. After all, it's not just about 50 riders, but also the entire workforce. Amazon is now also being discussed as a possible sponsor. Speculation continues in cycling.

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