🚨 Grading the latest WorldTour contract extensions 📝
Analysing a batch of new deals including Caruso, Gaudu, Tulett and Mas
Hi Subscribers,
The Giro has taken centre stage on the Substack for the last few weeks, and that’s created a bit of a backlog when it comes to transfers and contract extensions.
Here are the latest gradings from the men’s WorldTour, along with an analysis of several Grand Tour leaders, veterans, a promising British rider, and an experienced sprinter.
Remember, all the latest transfer news, updates, and analysis are on the Transfer Index Page, and to coincide with the Giro d’Italia, there’s a special 20% sale on annual subscriptions. Just click on the link below to sign up.
Daniel 🫶
Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) 🇮🇹
One-year contract extension
Earlier in the season, even as recently as March, the noises coming out of Bahrain-Victorious were that the veteran would be hanging up his wheels and turning his attention to becoming a sports director next season. The idea made logical sense given Caruso’s age, experience and strong relationship with heir apparent Antonio Tiberi.
However, the Giro d’Italia has demonstrated that despite his advancing years, Caruso is still able to compete for honours in a Grand Tour. He currently sits fifth in the Giro d’Italia overall standings, and it’s not outside the realms of possibility that he could climb the GC in the next two days. He doesn’t attack; he never wastes energy, but that durability and know-how count for so much when you’re deep into the third week of a Grand Tour.
The decision to extend the rider’s contract also makes sense for Bahrain. They’re not exactly flush when it comes to WorldTour budgets - they’re around the middle of the pack - so extending with a rider they’ve worked with for so long and can be reliable for at least another 12 months ticks a lot of boxes. They won’t get a better rider on the transfer market with Caruso’s pedigree without paying over the odds. This season, perhaps a crack at the Vuelta in another support role, and then another year for the team to build on their younger climbers, before Caruso finally steps into the team car, is one of the best deals of the spring.
Transfer Grade: A-
David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ) 🇫🇷
Two-year contract extension
Gaudu was proposed to several teams this spring, including Picnic PostNL, but it is unclear whether there was ever genuine intent to move on from Groupama-FDJ or if it was all a ploy to secure a better contract. Either way, the Frenchman is staying put for the next two years. Frankly, it would have been a massive surprise to see him race in another team’s kit, and he fits with Groupama on almost every level. However, he lacks the popularity that previous team leaders, such as Pinot, Démare, Guesdon, Durand, and Casar, had.
But to be perfectly blunt, the team had to keep him. Stefan Kung is off to Tudor Pro Cycling, and as we saw last year, when big teams come calling, the younger riders like Lenny Martinez aren’t going to think twice about joining a rival team in exchange for a huge contract. Marc Madiot is under real pressure in the future because, for a multitude of reasons, he can’t compete with the best teams when it comes to transfer fees, signing bonuses and tax breaks. The almost unlimited transfer funds that some teams have are crippling the smaller squads, and because there’s no real transfer system, Groupama are developing promising U23 riders only to see the best of them snapped up with no compensation. Sooner or later, they’re going to question whether the U23 feeder system is worth keeping.
Back to Gaudu; aside from a couple of good days at the Tour of Oman, he’s had a terrible season, marred by crashes and misfortune. However, due to a lack of team funds, he remains a vital member of this team. He’s still capable of top tens in Grand Tours, but it will be fascinating to see how he and his team race next season. It’s a new cycle for the relegation battle, and Groupama could quickly find themselves dragged into a fight they’d prefer to avoid. They’ve been dropping down the rankings by two or three places each year for several seasons, and if this trend continues, they’ll be just above the relegation line next season.
Transfer Grade: B-