MEN’S WORLD TEAMS
ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK BELGIUM
Riders: 30
Under 24: 6
Over 35: 0
Key stat: Jasper Philipsen and Kaden Groves took 74% of the team’s 35 wins last year. Then again, Mathieu van der Poel won Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix…
There was a time when Alpecin was essentially built around Mathieu van der Poel, but the team is a much broader proposition in 2024. With sprint stars such as last year’s Tour de France green jersey Jasper Philipsen having morphed from ‘Jasper Disaster’ into ‘Go-Faster Jasper’, and emergent fellow fastman Kaden Groves, Alpecin can win almost anywhere but the high mountains. The team has been bolstered this year by four graduates from the development squad, plus young signings from Movistar and Soudal Quick-Step.
ARKÉA-B&B HOTELS FRANCE
Riders: 29
Under 24: 6
Over 35: 0
Key stat: The team will hope to add to their two WorldTour wins since becoming Arkéa in 2019, which came courtesy of Nairo Quintana and Warren Barguil
The French team have bubbled under without making much of a dent despite first signing André Greipel (now retired) and then Arnaud Demare. One of the fastest in the world on his day, the Frenchman recorded just four victories last season – his lowest tally since 2015. The team also features fast-finishing Brit Dan McLay.
For 2024 Arkéa has brought in a handful of new names, including Classics man Florian Sénéchal from Soudal Quick-Step and newly crowned French cyclo-cross national champion Clément Venturini from AG2R Citroën.
ASTANA QAZAQSTAN KAZAKHSTAN
Riders: 29
Under 24: 7
Over 35: 3
Key stat: 2023 was the first season in the team’s history without a Grand Tour GC top-10 finish
With just one WorldTour win in the last two seasons, Astana aren’t as prolific as they once were, but they only need one to make 2024 a success: Mark Cavendish’s record-breaker at the Tour de France. Guiding the Manxman to a 35th career stage win that would put him clear of Eddy Merckx on the all-time list has become the team’s overarching mission, hence the latest recruits to his lead-out train, most notably his old Quick-Step team-mates Davide Ballerini and ‘World’s Best Lead-Out Rider’ Michael Mørkøv.
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS BAHRAIN
Riders: 27
Under 24: 8
Over 35: 4
Key stat: Despite making the top six on GC in 13 of their 21 Grand Tours, the team have still never won one
As much as they’ve impressed since entering the WorldTour seven years ago, Bahrain Victorious are still seeking that extra something to live up to their ‘Victorious’ moniker. Riders like Damiano Caruso, Jack Haig and Pello Bilbao are capable of pushing for podium finishes at Grand Tours but not overall titles, while potential sprinting star Jonathan Milan has left following his breakthrough Giro d’Italia last year. Veteran climber Mikel Landa has also moved on, making Matej Mohorič the closest they have to a top-tier rider.
BORA-HANSGROHE GERMANY
Riders: 29
Under 24: 5
Over 35: 1
Key stat: Energy drink giant Red Bull is set to take a 51% controlling stake in time for the Tour de France
Bora will begin the new season on the cusp of joining the WorldTour superteam elite thanks to an imminent takeover by Red Bull that should give the German team the financial means to punch well above their weight. Ralph Denk’s team
