The cycling transfer market has been open since August 1, but contracts are still being signed, and with the Grand Tours taking place in October and November for the 2020 season, riders with expiring contracts will have a chance to win new ones as the next season approaches.

On Friday, several transfers were announced for Russian GC rider Ilnur Zakarin.

Circus Wantigobert is looking to sign riders for its World Tour venture, and NTT Pro Cycling is increasingly likely to disband this season. Here is a summary of the latest transfer news.

The biggest transfer news today came from Russia, where pro team Gazprom Rusvelo announced the signing of Ilnur Zakarin.

During his five years with the now defunct Katusha team, the Tatar won two stages at the Giro d'Italia, was third at the Vuelta a España, and won the Tour de Romandie overall. This year was a disappointing one for Zakarin, who retired from the Tour de France after a crash and was eliminated from GC contention at the Giro.

He joined Gazprom Rusvelo (which recently announced that the gas company has renewed its three-year contract) on a two-year deal, boosting his chances for a wildcard return to the Giro d'Italia in 2021.

"I know almost all of my teammates firsthand," Zakarin said in a team press release. So did team sport director Dmitry Konyshev."

"When it comes to my goals, I want to be straightforward. My goal is not only to share my experience, but also to work with the team to the best of my ability and achieve new victories."

"I have already discussed the 2021 race calendar with the team management. Early season stage races will be my main focus and I will do my best to be in peak form in the spring."

Zakarin is the latest to leave the CCC, joining Greg Van Avermaat (AG2R Citroen), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Alessandro De Marchi, and Patrick Bevin (both Israel Startup Nation). rider.

Norwegian sprinter Christopher Halvorsen returns to the pro team level after three years with Sky and EF Pro Cycling, joining the Uno-X Pro Cycling team on a two-year contract.

The 24-year-old, who was the under-23 road race world champion in 2016, has not raced since cycling resumed in July. At the start of the season, he had two top-10 finishes in the Tour Down Under and was 11th in the Cune Brussel-Cune.

"Now we have one of the fastest sprinters in the world," UnoX boss Jens Haugland told Aftenposten.no. 'Christopher is a core guy and he will enjoy this group. He is very eager to race here."

Halvorsen said in August that he lost motivation due to the COVID-19 epidemic, adding that he had planned to compete when the season was suspended in March.

"At worst, I was very depressed," he told Fædrelandsvennen in August. 'Instead of doing what I liked, I dug a little grave.'

Japanese rider Hideto Nakane has moved from a professional team to EF Pro Cycling. His move came after a year with Nippo Delco One Provence and three years with Nippo Vini Fantini.

This season, the 30-year-old finished sixth and won a stage at the Tour de Langkawi and was seventh at the Tour de Taiwan; EF team boss Jonathan Vaughters said Nakane first caught his eye at the 2019 Japan Cup.

"I noticed him at the Japan Cup when he was climbing in the lead group and took notice. I think Nakane will be a great addition to our multicultural group of riders and staff and will bring his own style."

Nakane, on the other hand, acknowledged that the move is a big step up, but said he is ready for it.

"I am very happy and thrilled to be running with this great team. I understand that the mission of the World Team is very challenging, but I am ready for it." I will do my best to contribute to the team's success by playing to my strengths to the best of my ability."