“The unclear situation of B&B Hotels has blocked the transfer market for a long time,” said the teamless Benjamin Declercq recently. Which released riders can teams still do business with after B&B Hotels have stopped? We’ve listed them for you.
1. Mark Cavendish
At 37, Mark Cavendish wants to go down in the history books of the Tour once again.
Cavendish had signed a letter of intent with B&B Hotels, in which his salary and contract duration were already determined. But with the team disappearing, Cavendish is free again.
The British sprint bomb counts as many stage victories (34) in the Tour as Eddy Merckx and wants to knock our compatriot off the throne.
Publicity guaranteed if you go to the Tour with record hunter Cavendish.
Israel-Premier Tech, which is still hunting for a wild card for the Tour, is said to have already flirted with the 37-year-old Briton. There Cav would be reunited with that other veteran: Chris Froome.
2. Trio Belgians: Debusschere, Lietaer and Warlop
At B&B Hotels there were also 3 Belgians on the payroll for next season.
Former Belgian champion Jens Debusschere (33) trained with the French team to become a valued servant of Bryan Coquard, among others.
Debusschere has a handbag full of experience on the Flemish roads, but in recent years – more than he liked – has been slowed down by bad luck.
Eliot Lietaer (32) is the 2nd Belgian who was stuck at B&B. Lietaer became famous for a podium photo from his youth, when he showed off in the Vredeskoers alongside Peter Sagan and Michal Kwiatkowski.
Jordi Warlop (26) is the youngest of the trio of Belgians. Due to a corona infection, flu and a heavy fall at the BK, he was unable to show his potential last season. Otherwise he would certainly have settled in the top 10 several times in the Flemish races.
3. Cees Bol
Like Mark Cavendish, Cees Bol had signed a letter of intent with B&B Hotels. But that statement can now go in the trash.
The Dutch sprinter surprised with a win in Nokere Koerse 3 years ago, but has seen his evolution stall at DSM in recent years.
Because of the competition with Alberto Dainese and Sam Welsford, Bol wanted to look for other places. Which team will the Dutchman fish in as an extra sprint weapon?
4. Franck Bonnamour
In the 2021 Tour, Franck Bonnamour (27) was one of the absolute revelations.
The French climbing goat had a nose for the day’s breakaway, finished 4 times in the top 10 of Tour stages and was named the most combative rider of that Tour de France.
Because of that impressive performance, Bonnamour had turned out to be the big billboard of the team at B&B. We would be surprised if the French teams let this attractive rider go.
5. Alexis Gougeard
When he drove all his breakaway companions in a heap in the Vuelta, Alexis Gougeard seemed ready for a great career.
In the Omloop het Nieuwsblad (2016) Gougeard survived as an early breakaway, with a 5th place as a reward. In the years that followed, the speed driver’s engine sputtered.
Gougeard had a tough time mentally, but showed in the Tour that he has found his attacker’s legs again.
6. Axel Laurance
A crown jewel that, according to French sources, is of interest to Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal-Quick Step, AG2R-Citroën, Groupama-FDJ and TotalEnergies.
Axel Laurance had a stormy development this season, including a stage victory in the Tour of Croatia and 2nd place behind Wout van Aert in the Bretagne Classic.
The first-year pro is perhaps the most talented of the entire B&B Hotels rider base.
7. Jeremy Lecroq
A rider with a predilection for Flemish work and the courage to throw himself into the sprint bustle.
Jérémy Lecroq surprised in the last Tour by racing to 6th place on the Champs-Elysées. In the 1st mass sprint in Denmark, the Frenchman settled between Sagan and Groenewegen in 7th place.
8. Luca Mozzato
The 24-year-old Italian is a certainty on a basket full of points. Mozzato has a quick final shot, is a survivor and loves cobblestones.
His results last season speak for themselves: 2nd in the Tro-Bro Léon, 2nd in the Marcel Kint Classic, 3rd in the Tour of the Vendée, 4th in Isbergues, 4th in Koolskamp Koers, 5th in Paris-Tours and 6th in the Tour stage to Calais.
9. Pierre Rolland
As a two-time stage winner in the Tour, Pierre Rolland has the best honors list of the B&B riders. But those triumphs date back 10 years.
At the age of 36, Rolland came up against himself in the past Tour de France. In Denmark he was driven away from the leading group in the 1st stage in line on a hill.
If 2023 was the last year in his career planning, chances are that he will now have to retire a year earlier.
10. Nick Schultz
Just like Mark Cavendish and Cees Bol, Nick Schultz had signed a letter of intent with B&B Hotels. Read: only if the team got the financial picture round, would the Australian climber be employed.
The 28-year-old Schultz missed out on eternal glory in the Tour in the 10th stage, when he was beaten on the line by Magnus Cort in Megève.
