Alpecin and Fenix-Premier Tech set to land both U23 time trial world champions

Fenix-Premier Tech has confirmed the signing of newly crowned U23 time trial world champion Felicity Wilson Haffenden for the 2027 season.

The 21-year-old Australian has agreed a two year contract and will join the Belgian team after three seasons with Lidl-Trek.

Wilson Haffenden won the U23 individual time trial world title in Montréal on Monday, adding another rainbow jersey to her palmarès after also becoming junior world champion against the clock in 2023.

“I’m beyond excited to be joining Fenix Premier Tech for the next two seasons,” Wilson Haffenden said in a statement by the team. “I have a lot of respect for the team’s racing style, and I believe that, with their support, this is the perfect environment for me to take the next step in my career.”

Gal’s move is not yet official. After winning in Montréal, the Dutchman told De Telegraaf that he has a verbal agreement in place for 2027, but declined to reveal which team he is set to join.

WielerFlits has since linked him with Alpecin-Premier Tech. If confirmed, it would see both U23 time trial world champions join teams within the Roodhooft organisation for 2027.

Gal has taken a less conventional route towards the WorldTour. After two seasons with the Picnic PostNL development team, he stepped down to Continental level with Metec-SOLARWATT for 2026.

The move has paid off. Gal won the Dutch U23 time trial title in June and followed that with a solo victory on the final stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta in July.

His biggest result came in Montréal. Despite being ill in the week before the race, Gal won the 31.3 kilometre time trial in 37:26.16. He was behind at the early checkpoints but made up the difference in the second half of the course to take the title.

Nicolas Milesi finished seven seconds back in second, while Héctor Álvarez took bronze, 11.88 seconds behind.