EF Education-EasyPost, three signings: Herzog, Milesi, and Bayer.

EF Education-EasyPost is moving into the market and securing three new additions to add depth to its one-day and stage races. The most talked-about name is Emil Herzog , former junior road world champion, joined by Italian Nicolas Milesi , silver medalist in the U23 time trial at the World Championships in Montreal, and 26-year-old Austrian Tobias Bayer .

Herzog is just 22 years old, but has been racing in the WorldTour for three seasons with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. He already has two significant top 10 finishes under his belt, at Milano-Torino and Bretagne Classic-CIC. This year, he came close to his first UCI victory at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana: on stage 5, he joined the breakaway and only lost in a six-man sprint, finishing second.

EF Pro Cycling CEO and founder Jonathan Vaughters is enthusiastic: "Emil is a huge talent. He's a former junior world champion, and at 22, he already has three WorldTour seasons under his belt." He continues: "This year, he was knocking on the door of his first professional victory. I believe he will flourish in the years to come. He's an aggressive rider, perfect for our team's style. We'll give him every opportunity to showcase his quality and strength."

Nicolas Milesi is climbing to the WorldTour for the first time after a year with the Netcompany Ineos Racing Academy. A junior mountain bike champion, he switched to the road and won three consecutive silver medals at the Italian U23 time trial championships. In Montreal, he finished just seven seconds behind Dutchman Ryan Gal, winner of the U23 race. Three weeks later, he closed the season with a victory at the U23 Chrono des Nations, after also winning a time trial stage at the Olympia Tour.

Tobias Bayer, on the other hand, is a surefire prospect. After six seasons with Alpecin-Premier Tech, he's shown great versatility: a domestique in six Grand Tours and a standout with a podium finish at the Brussels Cycling Classic. A two-time Austrian U23 time trial champion, he's seeking space in breakaways and promises to thrive in the American team's aggressive style.

Vaughters describes him like this: "He's proven himself to be an incredibly dedicated comrade, willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. That said, we think he still has untapped potential and are excited to see what he can achieve."

On the contractual front, Herzog and Milesi have signed contracts until 2029, while Bayer has a two-year deal. For those who play fantasy cycling, the long contracts of the two youngsters are a clear signal: EF is aiming to let them develop slowly, giving them opportunities to shine.