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  "description": "Europe isn't the only place to earn a living as a pro anymore. There is another way.",
  "path": "/why-are-so-many-former-top-pros-racing-in-asia/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-20T18:17:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://escapecollective.com",
  "tags": [
    "How a Malaysian detour helped Stefan de Bod bounce back to the European pelotonAfter dropping out of the WorldTour, the South African took a major risk to revive his career. Now, he is back in the big time with Modern Adventure.Escape CollectiveDan Challis",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Cor Vos\n\nA total of 23 former men's WorldTour and ProTeam riders are competing for Asian Continental teams in 2026, up from 17 last year and 14 in 2023. Included among the current roster are Grand Tour stage winners and others who have ridden at the very top levels of the sport. Now, they are choosing to race in the third tier in China, Japan and other parts of Asia.\n\nOnce much-maligned, many riders are finding the Asian pro circuit to be a genuine alternative to Europe, with well-organised racing, acceptable remuneration and more and more regular visits from European professional teams to many of the continent’s biggest races – providing a chance to measure their abilities against riders from the sport's main power center.\n\nA third of those racing in Asia transferred from professional teams over the winter, including Argentinian Eduardo Sepúlveda, who moved from Lotto to Chinese team Li Ning Star for 2026. Other high profile names who have made the move over to Asia in the last few years include Estonian Grand Tour stage winner Rein Taaramäe, French sprinter Pierre Barbier and Antoine Huby, who raced for Soudal-Quick Step last season.\n\nSeveral riders from Europe have raced in Asia for many years, but now there is an increasing number heading east in pursuit of a ride to continue their career – and the signs suggest that this movement will only grow in the near future.\n\nHow a Malaysian detour helped Stefan de Bod bounce back to the European pelotonAfter dropping out of the WorldTour, the South African took a major risk to revive his career. Now, he is back in the big time with Modern Adventure.Escape CollectiveDan Challis\n\n## A weakened European third division pushing riders east\n\nOne foundation for this shift is the gradual weakening of Continental-level racing in Europe. In previous eras, if a professional rider found themselves without a contract, they simply had the option to drop down to a smaller Continental team where they could continue to race in Europe, occasionally gaining opportunities to compete against the best riders to prove themselves. However, things are no longer so easy for these teams due to increased costs, lack of sponsorship and the insurgence of WorldTour development squads which now regularly dominate lower-level racing in Europe.\n\nOf course some teams are making things work, even in this environment, but there are fewer Continental teams than ever who are able to provide these opportunities – and when they do, it is often for little or no pay. Meanwhile, Asian Continental teams are motivated to win the continent’s biggest races and are realising that to do that they need to sign riders from Europe – and they are willing to pay.\n\nFor those riders, the Asian circuit provides both a path to continue a career that might otherwise have ended prematurely and a chance to make it back – or make it in the first place – to the ProTour or WorldTour level. And the Asian circuit's rising prominence and those opportunities to regularly compete against top European teams is a key part of that.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Why are so many former top pros racing in Asia?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-20T18:17:09.705Z"
}