So far, it has not been the year of big transfers in the Women's WorldTour. Whereas in 2024 one major transfer after another took place, these have so far been absent in 2025. Looking at the total number of transfers, we also see a striking trend: so far, nearly 40 percent fewer transfers have occurred compared to the same period a year earlier (as of November 7). What is going on?
The winter of 2024 into 2025 was exceptional, with a total of 94 transfers in the Women's WorldTour. Riders like Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Marlen Reusser (Movistar), and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) left SD Worx-Protime to become the absolute team leader at other squads. This year, such transfers have not happened. The moves of Pauliena Rooijakkers (UAE Team ADQ), Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), and Sarah Van Dam (Visma | Lease a Bike) were notable, but in terms of scale, these do not come close to the transfers of the previous year.
After the winter of 2024, many team leaders were signed for extended periods. Therefore, transfers involving big names like Reusser, Vollering, Kopecky, Kim Le Court, Sarah Gigante, Puck Pieterse, and Lorena Wiebes were not to be expected in advance. But that’s not the whole story. There were also fewer transfers across the board. Whereas by November 7, 2024, 72 transfers in the Women's WorldTour had already been announced, by November 7, 2025, there were 'only' 45 transfers. This is a reduction of almost 38 percent compared to the previous year – and even more than halving the total number of transfers in 2024.
The disappearance of Ceratizit is not the reason for fewer transfers. The folding of that team actually released fourteen riders to the market, and the Women's WorldTour will maintain the same number of teams in 2026 thanks to the entry of EF Education-Oatly.
Sarah Van Dam will compete for Visma | Lease a Bike in 2026 - photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Fewer professional riders in the Women's WorldTour
So there is more than coincidence at play: the Women's WorldTour will have fewer professional riders in 2026 because several teams will start the season with smaller rosters. This has been confirmed by multiple pro teams to WielerFlits. Among them are Visma | Lease a Bike, FDJ-Suez, AG Insurance Soudal, and EF Education-Oatly. One reason to enter 2026 with smaller rosters is rising rider salaries while sponsor income has not increased.
Stephen Delcourt, manager of FDJ-Suez, said at the end of October to CyclismActu that there is an 'economic crisis' ongoing and that he is forced to reduce his squad from sixteen to fourteen riders. "Sponsorship is currently not a priority for companies. We understand that, but on our side, we need to make ends meet. We’d rather reduce the roster to fourteen riders. We'll just race a bit less in 2026. We'll compete in almost five to ten percent fewer races, but that's not a problem."
EF Education-Oatly is also shrinking from eighteen to sixteen riders, while Visma | Lease a Bike will start the 2026 season with two fewer riders than the previous year. AG Insurance-Soudal will also begin the season with fewer riders: from nineteen down to seventeen. For Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto: same story, although it is unknown what changes are still expected on that team. SD Worx-Protime currently has three fewer riders on the payroll than at the start of 2025, but that team is still expected to strengthen itself.
Exactly how many fewer riders the Women's WorldTour will have in 2026 remains to be seen until January 1, 2026. The question is whether a shrinking WorldTour peloton will benefit the sport. With the new requirement for WorldTeams to start in (almost) all Women's WorldTour races, it will be very difficult to maintain a solid racing program outside the WorldTour with a smaller squad. These races are precisely what the sport needs to continue growing. To be continued.
