Pinarello-Q36.5 hit: Belgian Niels Driesen taken

The transfer market continues to provide exciting twists and turns, and this time it's Pinarello-Q36.5 who has made yet another move for a promising youngster. The Swiss team has announced the signing of Niels Driesen , runner-up at the 2026 Tour de l'Avenir , on a three-year contract that will keep him with the team until 2029.

Driesen, one of the most talked-about names in the Under-23 scene over the past two years, arrives from the Lotto-Intermarché development team , a team that failed to retain him despite his crystal-clear ability. This is a prime opportunity for discerning fantasy cyclists, who will want to keep an eye on him for the coming seasons.

Driesen's 2026 season has been nothing short of scintillating : a victory in the overall of the Ronde de l'Isard, a stage win at the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc, and most importantly, success in the first stage of the Tour de l'Avenir, where he beat Kasper Haugland and Under 23 world champion Lorenzo Finn , who went on to win the overall, in a three-man sprint.

But it was his defense of the podium until the finish line in Lago Serrù last Wednesday that definitively established Driesen as one of the world's most solid prospects. A true rankings performance that capped off a breakthrough season for the Belgian rider.

"I feel like there are still many things I can improve on. Last winter, I started training much more than in previous years, and I immediately noticed my level had improved," Driesen said in a press release. These words should set off a few lights among fantasy cycling managers: a rider who admits room for growth and who has already demonstrated his ability both on climbs and in one-day races is pure gold for those who bet on long-term prospects.

"I think there's still a lot of room for improvement. At my age, I think that's a positive thing. I just want to develop as much as possible and see where that takes me."

He's not just a pure climber, as is often the case with the most talented young riders in modern cycling who have to be able to do a bit of everything: Driesen finished in the top five at both the junior Paris-Roubaix and the junior Tour of Flanders, demonstrating a versatility that makes him a particularly interesting fantasy cycling investment, potentially capable of scoring points in both stage races and one-day classics.

"I really like one-day races because you can throw yourself completely into them," the Belgian explained. "But I hope to continue growing in both areas. This year, I was surprised by what I was able to do in the stage races. I want to race with experienced riders, learn from them, become stronger, and help the team as much as possible. And when the opportunities come my way, I want to be able to seize them."

The team doesn't want to label him too quickly as a specific type of rider , giving him the freedom to develop the route best suited to his characteristics. This strategy, from a fantasy cycling perspective, makes Driesen a potentially valuable rider to have on the team, capable of securing points in a variety of race contexts.

"What excites us about Niels is not just what he's already achieved, but how much development we believe he still has ahead of him," said team manager Doug Ryder. "His second place at the Tour de l'Avenir and his victory at the Ronde de l'Isard demonstrate his ability, but we don't want to pigeonhole him too quickly. Our job is to give him the environment, experience, and equipment to discover how far this talent can take him."

The 21-year-old Belgian is the seventh new rider announced for next season by Pinarello Q36.5 , which is building a team designed for both the present and the future. Driesen joins the roster of riders already signed by the Swiss team: Liam O'Brien (21), Tom Crabbe (21), AJ August (20), Pavel Bittner (23), Sebastian Berwick (26) and Mauro Schmid (26). These are interesting additions also from a Fantacycling 2027 perspective, for a team that wants to continue its growth path.