Wheel Talk Newsletter: The Contracts Clock is Ticking Louder Than Ever
News & Racing (https://escapecollective.com/tag/news-and-racing/)
Imagine the pressure mounting as the offseason drags on—76 elite WorldTour riders are still scrambling to secure their spots for the 2026 season, with time slipping away faster than a downhill sprint. It's a nail-biting scenario that could reshape the cycling world, and trust me, you won't want to look away as we dive into the latest updates.
Tiffany Cromwell, a seasoned pro who's been riding strong with Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, finds herself amid this uncertainty, just like 75 other WorldTour or ProTeam cyclists yet to reveal their 2026 plans. For those new to the sport, the WorldTour is the elite tier of professional cycling, where riders compete in the biggest races around the globe, battling for glory, contracts, and sponsorships that can make or break careers.
Cor Vos
We're well into the quiet winter months, and this week on the podcast, we tackled some fan questions while reliving standout moments from a jam-packed racing year. By November, my brain feels like a tangled web of memories, with fresh victories pushing older triumphs to the back—it's a perfect excuse for a nostalgic rewind. What stood out for you in 2025? Share your top highlights in the comments below!
First up, let's address the elephant in the room: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's ankle ordeal.
Her tumble at Strade Bianche happened in a flash—it was so quick, you might have blinked and missed it. Yet, her swift remount showcased the grit honed from years in off-road racing, though the fallout has lingered well beyond the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, where she clinched the championship. To give you context, the Tour de France Femmes is the women's equivalent of the iconic men's race, a grueling multi-stage event that tests endurance, strategy, and raw power—think of it as a cycling marathon spanning thousands of kilometers.
You can spot Ferrand-Prévot's crash about two minutes into this highlights video.
Right after the World Championships—a prestigious event where nations' best riders clash for global supremacy—she decided to pause her season to heal a persistent ankle injury from that crash. It's mind-boggling how she achieved so much while battling this ongoing pain, and fans are eagerly anticipating what she might unleash next year if she recovers fully and returns to peak form. Initially, reports suggested she'd take just three weeks off, but surgery revealed a longer road ahead. On social media, she poignantly shared, "How to go from a high-level sports body to a sedentary one in the space of a few weeks."
But here's where it gets intriguing: Ferrand-Prévot isn't letting this setback define her downtime. She embraced Halloween spirit by dressing as the Corpse Bride alongside her partner, fellow WorldTour standout Dylan van Baarle—the couple recently got engaged, as seen in this sweet Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DO0XfcojFNO/?utmsource=igwebcopylink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==). It's a reminder that even top athletes need balance to recharge.
Heading into her second season back on the road, Ferrand-Prévot has her sights set on another Tour de France Femmes win, a solid Classics campaign (those are one-day races like the Tour of Flanders, famous for their cobbled roads and unpredictable weather), and potentially the World Championships—though she's eyeing 2027 for that. Still, she'll give Montreal a solid shot, proving her resilience knows no bounds.
And this is the part most people miss: How do injuries like this affect the broader women's cycling scene? Is the sport pushing athletes too hard, or does it build unbreakable champions? What do you think—should riders prioritize recovery over pushing through pain? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Transfer Update
Just as riders are soaking up their well-deserved offseasons, the press teams are catching their breath too, leading to a slower trickle of transfer news. The biggest buzz comes from Human Powered Health, who've welcomed Nina Buijsman and Jante Koops to their 2026 squad. For beginners, transfers are like trades in other sports—teams scout and sign riders to boost their rosters, often based on performance, potential, and chemistry.
Did we nail this recap? Let us know your feedback!
News & Racing (https://escapecollective.com/tag/news-and-racing/) women's cycling (https://escapecollective.com/tag/womens-cycling/) Wheel Talk Newsletter (https://escapecollective.com/tag/wheel-talk-newsletter/)
But here's a controversial twist: Some argue that the contract scramble highlights gender disparities in cycling, with women's teams often getting less funding and attention than men's. Is the ticking clock fair when resources are uneven? Do you agree, or disagree? Join the debate in the comments—we'd love to hear your take!
