10 of the best riders in a contract year – and where they should go in 2027

Cyclist
10 of the best riders in a contract year – and where they should go in 2027

It’s true that 2026 is the year of the horse, and for some, their current ride is coming to an end. Some of the sport’s biggest names are coming to the end of their contracts, and are looking to either find a new home or get a pay rise from their teams.

With Grand Tour winners, real sporting pioneers and true greats of the sport deciding their futures, we’ve assessed the best ten and what they should do next. As a wise man once said, no risk no glory huh?

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez)

Leading the way is undoubtably Demi Vollering. The biggest name in women’s cycling, the Dutch superstar is at the forefront of the development and progress of the sport right now.

She joined FDJ United-Suez from SD Worx-Protime in 2025 on a two-year deal and brought an abundance of success to the French outfit both on and off the bike, with lucrative sponsorships following her, including rumours of a hefty Red Bull partnership on the way.

This season she has been dominant, winning Omloop Nieuwsblad, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liège-Bastogne-Liège this spring, with her teammates taking on that victorious form when she couldn’t contest the win at Strade Bianche and when she wasn’t there at Paris-Roubaix. Wherever Vollering goes, a win is likely to follow and the future with FDJ United-Suez looks bright indeed.

There’s no shying away from the season’s biggest goal of a Tour de France Femmes victory. So far, there’s been no repeat winner of the maillot jaune in the race’s short history. That could change this season.

Whatever happens, Vollering isn’t going anywhere.

• Where should she go? Stay at FDJ United-Suez.

Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

Primož Roglič is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe having signed from Visma-Lease a Bike in 2024. The 36-year-old is one of the most accomplished riders of his generation, winning the Vuelta a España four times since 2019.

When previously asked about his future, he admitted that retirement is drawing ‘closer’ and that he’s looking at his future ‘differently’. Another factor to this is the changing Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe hierarchy with young riders like Florian Lipowitz and Giulio Pellizzari rapidly developing and the big money signing of Remco Evenepoel. Where does that leave Roglič?

It would make perfect sense for him to retire at the top as opposed to fizzling out. If he can win one more Vuelta title to take his career total to five then he will stand alone as the man with most victories in the race, one clear of Roberto Heras. Retiring here seems the perfect curtain closer for a great rider, especially with it currently unlikely for either Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard or Paul Seixas to be challenging him in Spain.

• Where should he go? Retire on top after the Vuelta.
• Read more: What does the future hold for Primož Roglič and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe?

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto)

It might be time for Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney to spread her wings and leave the Canyon-SRAM after almost a decade. The 31-year-old won the Tour de France Femmes in incredible fashion back in 2024 and returned to the podium with a third place the following season.

She might not have notched a win yet this year, but she’s been up there and in the mix with second places at Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race.

It’s being reported that Lidl-Trek are interested in her signature and she would be moving to one of the peloton’s richest teams, who boast a team of talented riders to work with including Niamh Fisher-Black, Isabella Holmgren and Shirin van Anrooij.

• Where should she go? Move to Lidl-Trek.

Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

Jai Hindley would be a great addition to any squad. The Australian, who won the Giro in 2022, still has the talent to compete at Grand Tours – as evidenced by his fourth place at the Vuelta last season and current form at this year’s Giro, but is struggling with the same issue facing Roglič with Red Bull’s oversigning of GC leaders.

There are several teams interested in taking Hindley off their hands, including Netcompany Ineos, but there is a Simon Yates-shaped hole at Visma-Lease a Bike and Hindley fits that profile perfectly. He’d get opportunities at the Grand Tours Vingegaard skips, and would be a massive asset for the Dane at the Tour de France.

• Where should he go? Move to Visma-Lease a Bike.

Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates XRG)

Jonathan Narváez’s stock has only been on the up recently. Despite UAE losing their team leader early in the Giro, Narváez has thrived, picking up three wins within 11 stages. Don’t count him out for adding more to this total either.

Na…