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Finding a cycling team.

Every year dozens of Junior and Under 23 riders end up without a team, not because there are no places but because nobody knows they are available. This page explains how the market works and how to be found.

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01

When the market moves

Most deals are signed between July and November for the season starting in January. Junior and Under 23 teams settle their roster once they know the budget and who is leaving on age limits. Moving in August gives you far better odds than moving in December.

  • July–September: teams start sounding riders out, looking at the current season's results
  • October–November: most agreements are closed
  • December–January: only late vacancies remain, often from riders pulling out
02

What a sports director actually looks at

Results matter, but not on their own: twentieth place in a hard race counts for more than a win in a criterium. Consistency, credible power data and reliability matter too. With equal results, almost every team looks at W/kg and at whether you can travel.

  • Category and year of birth: many teams need one specific age group
  • Rider type: sprinter, climber, rouleur, time triallist or all-rounder
  • Stated weight, FTP and W/kg, ideally backed by a public Strava profile
  • Results from the last two seasons, with the level of the races
  • Previous teams and continuity: changing every year raises questions
  • Where you live, for meet-ups and travel
03

How to present yourself

A complete profile gets read, a half-filled one gets skipped. You do not need a PDF résumé: you need verifiable data and an honest description of the rider you are and what you are looking for.

  • Fill everything in: without weight and FTP a team cannot compare you to anyone
  • Add results that are not podiums too, if the races were at a good level
  • Add your Strava link: it shows volume and consistency better than any sentence
  • Write two honest lines about your goals, skip the superlatives
  • Make the profile public if you want to be contacted without applying
04

What you can do here

Talenti Cycling gathers the openings of verified teams and the profiles of available riders. You build the profile once, apply to the openings that match your category and follow the status of every application. It is free, there is no commission and we do not act as agents.

Frequently asked questions

How do you find a cycling team?
The traditional route is word of mouth: your coach, your current club, contacts in races. The limit is that it only reaches teams that already know you. A complete online profile is also seen by teams in other regions, which is often where the free places are.
When should you start looking?
From July onwards for the following season. By December mostly late vacancies are left.
Do you need an agent to race as an Under 23?
No. In the youth categories deals are almost always made directly between rider, family and club. Be wary of anyone charging a fee to get you into a team.
How much does Talenti Cycling cost?
Nothing. The service is free for riders and teams, with no commission on agreements.
Can I sign up if I already have a team?
Yes. You can state that you have a team but are open to offers, or that you are not looking: the profile still works as a showcase of your results.
Who sees my data?
Only verified teams. With a private profile, only the teams you apply to.

The profile takes ten minutes.

Date of birth, category, rider type, weight and FTP. Results and previous teams can be added whenever you like.

Create a rider profile
Finding a cycling team: how the transfer market works · Talenti Cycling