🇦🇺Lucas Hamilton close to joining Ineos Grenadiers

Masnada and Sosa transfers confirmed

Hi subscribers, 

This is just a short bonus (free) email because we heard over the weekend that Lucas Hamilton is close to joining Ineos Grenadiers.

We can’t confirm that the move has been agreed and signed but the indication from several sources is that the move is currently ‘on’.

The 28-year-old was not offered a contract extension by Jayco AlUla over the summer, and there was little talk of the Australian’s name on the transfer market until the last few days. 

Once a Grand Tour mainstay for the team, and fourth in the Tour de l’Avenir during his U23 days, Hamilton has fallen down the pecking order in recent seasons and hasn’t raced a Grand Tour since the 2022 Vuelta a España. 

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It’s unclear how long a potential contract with Ineos Grenadiers would last but the team certainly have room for the Australian, regardless of whether Tom Pidcock departs at the end of the year. 

The arrival of Hamilton will do little to alter the balance or help Ineos Grenadiers catch their Grand Tour rivals, although he is a respectable climber in his own right. 

Ineos have been unable to land a marque signing in the transfer market this season with Sam Watson, Bob Jungels and Axel Lawrance their best recruitment moves so far ahead of 2025. The distraction caused by the Tom Pidcock fall-out still lingers and we’ve heard that the team have looked at possible options in the sprinters’ market. 

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Elsewhere, Astana’s non-stop shopping spree has continued with the team picking up Fausto Masnada on a one-year deal from Soudal QuickStep. The Kazakh team have signed 12 new riders for 2025, with Masnada joined by Wout Poels, Sergio Higuita and Diego Ulissi. Like Ineos Grenadiers, Astana have also been in the market for a sprinter. They approached Caleb Ewan last month but that deal fell apart with the Australian currently set to stay at Jayco AlULa and see out his existing deal. 

Finally, Ivan Sosa’s move from Movistar to Equipo Kern Pharma was confirmed over the weekend. 

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Rouleur Live is the world’s greatest cycling show. With a star-studded lineup of guest speakers and over 70 of the best cycling brands on show, Rouleur Live is held at The Truman Brewery, London, 14-16 November 2024. Names confirmed for the show already: Tom Pidcock, Kasia Niewiadoma, Luke Rowe, Alejandro Valverde, Safa Brian, Bob Jungels, Josh Tarling and many more. Timings & location: 14-16 November, The Truman Brewery, London.

Tickets: Available at rouleur.cc/live