Even if, under UCI rules, riders can’t formally sign new contracts until much later in the year, rider agents is working hard to push forward negotiations and talk about future salaries, bonus structures and contracts for 2016. And the Giro d’Italia traditionally marks the point when many teams decide on their team leaders for the following season.

According to Cyclingnews, Fabio Aru has extended his contract with Astana Pro Team for 2016 and 2017. Alberto Contador, leader of the race, has also been decided to stay with Tinkoff-Saxo. But the market is concentrated on two riders: Richie Porte and Rigoberto Uran, both are out of contract this season.

Michael Kwiatkowski is widely expected to join Team Sky for 2016. To sign the Polish rider, Sky could be reduced his budget with the transfer of the Australian rider. Orica GreenEDGE for Porte ? Not sure. The Australian team insisting that it is focused on developing Johan Esteban Chaves and the Yates brothers as Grand Tour leaders. Time will tell if this is true or just a distraction strategy.

Other names on the transfer market include Tour de Romandie winner Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha Team), Carlos Betancur (Ag2r La Mondiale), Mikel Landa (Astana Pro Team), Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha Team), Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team), Daniel Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), André Greipel (Lotto Belisol), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quick Step), Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step), Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), Daniel Moreno (Katusha Team), Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol), Elia Viviani (Team Sky), Bryan Coquard (Team Europcar), Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar), Maciej Paterski (CCC Polsat), Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto Belisol), etc.