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Cycling News
Cycling News
Sport
Ollie Smith

No team, no salary, no bike – The reality for cycling's 'free agents' who find themselves without a contract but still want to race

Julia Borgstrom riding for AG Insurance Soudal during the 2025 season, with contract imagery alongside her.

Being a professional cyclist at the highest level and racing some of the biggest races in the world is a dream for many. For the lucky few who ride for WorldTour squads that we get to enjoy watching every year, this dream is a reality.

Riders race their bikes, deliver results or work hard for their teammates, get noticed by teams, and sign on the dotted line to ply their trade in any given squad for a few years. But what happens when that contract reaches its end and you haven’t been re-signed? What’s it like to be a pro cyclist without a contract? What happens to your bike and equipment? How do you earn money? Do you stop racing altogether or fight to keep the dream alive?

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