Take2 days ago
Knox heads into Il Lombardia with no 2027 team
James Knox told Cyclingnews ahead of Il Lombardia that he is without a team for 2027 and that it might be hard to get anything. His one-year Picnic-PostNL deal, signed to help him rediscover motivation, will as things stand go no further than 2026. The bet produced no result for him, and none for a team that sits bottom of the WorldTour ranking.
What this means
Knox's Il Lombardia could be his final race, per Cyclingnews, and he is currently listed without a contract for 2027.
Picnic-PostNL announced Knox in October 2025 as a climbing domestique with nine Grand Tours behind him, on a contract for 2026 only. Head coach Rudi Kemna called him «the experienced climbing support that every GC team needs» and said the team aimed to help him rediscover fresh motivation. Knox's own review of the year reads differently: «I never really got going, had some setbacks, and here we are – it feels like the end of the season.» The team has won just twice in 2026 and is outranked by 10 second-division ProTeams. Knox turns 31 in November after a nine-year WorldTour career, and Procyclingstats lists him among riders without a contract for 2027. His own words: «it's become a situation where it might be hard for me to get anything for next year.»
Sources
'It's become a situation where it might be hard for me to get anything for next year' – James Knox fears for his career after Il LombardiaPicnic-PostNL boost 2026 squad with British climber James KnoxTeam Picnic PostNL reinforce Men’s program with Corkery, Knox and PeaceWhich riders are without a contract for 2027?
Analysed 4 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work