Asgreen to EF, Castrillo to Movistar

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It’s a busy week with transfers across several major teams, with Kasper Asgreen joining EF Education-EasyPost and Team Movistar winning the sweepstakes to earn the signature of rising Spanish star Pablo Castrillo.

Demi Vollering‘s favorite sport director Lars Boom is heading to FDJ-Suez, setting the groundwork for what’s expected to see the Dutch superstar make the move to the French squad in 2025.

UAE Team Emirates already confirmed it’s signing Spain’s next diamond-in-the-rough with Pablo Torres.

There’s a lot to dive into. So here we go:

Movistar lands Spain’s ‘next big thing’

In what’s a major coup for Spain’s long-running WorldTour team, Team Movistar secured the signature of highly touted Spanish climber Pablo Castrillo as one of its top transfers.

The 23-year-old won two stages at this year’s Vuelta a España, and was linked to major players like Ineos Grenadiers after his stock quickly rose. He turned pro with Kern Pharma, and makes the jump to the WorldTour.

“These past few weeks have been a big step for me as a person and my sporting career, represented by this WorldTour contract with a team like Movistar,” Castrillo said. “They are the reference of Spanish cycling, and I’ve always dreamed of racing for this team.”

Nabbing Castrillo is big news for the sometimes-beleaguered Team Movistar.

One of the stars of La Vuelta signs for Movistar Team

Pablo Castrillo, 23, winner of two stages of the 2024 Vuelta a España, will officially move on a three-year deal on January 1.

See all the 2025 moves in the men’s WorldTour: https://t.co/ORXKIPhE0V

Getty Images pic.twitter.com/terKvnZiE9

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) October 9, 2024

“Los Bleus” were once the hotbed of Spanish cycling during much of its four-decade history, with most of Spain’s top riders, from Pedro Delgado and Miguel Indurain to Alejandro Valverde and Joaquin Rodríguez, all filtering through the ranks.

Over the past half decade or so, however, Movistar has lost a step in the race among the “super teams” in snagging key transfers.

Lately, many of Spain’s rising talents have opted to sign with non-Spanish teams. Two of Spain’s biggest prospects did not join Movistar despite entreaties from the team, with Carlos Rodriguez going for Ineos Grenadiers and Juan Ayuso heading to UAE Team Emirates.

Castrillo’s signature will give Movistar a rising national star to build around established GC captain Enric Mas and other top recruits, including Iván Romeo and Colombian talent Diego Pescador.

Vollering to follow Boom to FDJ-Suez?

FDJ-Suez confirmed the arrival of Lars Boom, one of the top sport directors at SD Worx-Protime.

That move is fueling speculation that Demi Vollering won’t be far behind.

Sources have told Velo since this summer that Vollering’s arrival to the French WorldTour team is all but assured. The only thing remaining appears to be the official announcement.

Vollering joined SD Worx in 2021, and quickly gained the confidence of DS Boom.

✍️ We are delighted to announce to announce the appointment of Lars Boom as sports director, with immediate effect.

Welcome Lars ! pic.twitter.com/Y4dplMZdyh

— FDJ – SUEZ (@FDJ_SUEZ) October 8, 2024

The Dutch superstar, who lost the Tour de France Femmes by 4 seconds this summer, is off-contract at the end of 2024. She is linked to what many are calling women’s racing’s first million-dollar contract.

With Anna van der Breggen coming out of retirement for 2025, SD Worx-Protime is also rebuilding for next season with some key transfers. Lotte Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, Blanka Vas, and Elena Cecchini are all under contract through at least 2025, with American Skylar Schneider set to join the team.

Asgreen rides on with EF

Kasper Asgreen is hoping a new team will help to kick start his once flourishing road career.

The former winner of Tour of Flanders, E3 SaxoBank Classic and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is ready for change.

“The main reason for me to come to this team is the way that the guys race,” Asgreen said. “You can see that there’s always a plan to try to win. Even if the race is not perfectly suited to them, the guys won’t just sit in the bunch, waiting for the other teams to take charge. That really attracted me.”

Get ready to race in pink, Kasper!! We’re excited to have you join EF Education-EasyPost for our 2025 season

Get to know Kasper: https://t.co/DKja41I6Ul pic.twitter.com/tLsenUZqmQ

— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) October 9, 2024

EF Pro Cycling founder and CEO Jonathan Vaughters thinks that the 29-year-old Dane is going to fit right in.

“Kasper is a smart racer who can make big attacks stick at the ends of the toughest classics,” Vaughters said. “He can read a race very well. When the contenders are on their last legs, he’ll pick his moment to go. Time and time again, it’s the right one. He packs a great sprint too, as he showed when he won the Ronde van Vlaanderen.”

EF is seeing a few top names leave at the end of 2024. Rigoberto Urán retires and departures include Alberto Bettiol (Astana-Qazaqstan), Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale), and Simon Carr (Cofidis).

Asgreen is the team’s first confirmed transfers for 2025, with a half-dozen current riders waiting on their status for next year.