Pinarello-Q36.5 make major signing with Tour stage winner Schmid as Astana seal immediate transfer
August 1 marks an important date on the cycling calendar, with teams able to officially announce signings for the following season and, on occasion, complete immediate transfers. Pinarello-Q36.5 and XDS Astana are among the first teams to make moves as the transfer window opens.
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The opening of the UCI transfer window has already prompted several teams to strengthen their rosters, with Pinarello-Q36.5 and XDS Astana among those confirming early moves.
Mauro Schmid has signed a three-year contract with Pinarello-Q36.5 beginning on January 1, 2027.
The 25-year-old Swiss rider will link up with the Swiss ProTeam after three seasons with Jayco AlUla. 2026 has been a standout season for Schmid, who won a stage at the Tour de France and ended second on two more stages.
In an official statement, Schmid highlighted that the team's progress and its Swiss identity were key factors behind his decision to make the move.
"Doug [King] gave me the opportunity to turn professional, so there was already a strong connection. But what really convinced me was seeing how much the team has evolved over the last two or three seasons. Especially as a Swiss rider, becoming part of this project makes it even more special."
Meanwhile, Monaco's Victor Langellotti has joined XDS Astana Team with immediate effect after completing a transfer from Netcompany Ineos.
The reigning Monaco road race and time trial champion will remain with the Kazakh WorldTeam for the remainder of the 2026 season and throughout 2027.
The 31-year-old will make his debut for XDS Astana at the Tour de Pologne, which begins on August 3. Langellotti won stage 6 of the 2025 edition, taking the race lead into the final stage, an individual time trial, where he ultimately slipped to fifth overall.
Langellotti, Monaco's only WorldTour rider, reflected on the decision to make a mid-season move.
"I'm incredibly excited to join XDS Astana Team and begin a new chapter in my career. A mid-season transfer is a huge opportunity for me, and I'm very grateful to the team for the trust they have placed in me," said Langellotti in an official statement.
He also recalled accompanying Astana during the 2009 Tour de France Grand Départ in Monaco as a young cyclist, describing his arrival at the team 17 years later as "incredible" and saying "everything has come full circle."
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