It is a bold move for a 20-year-old. AJ August has signed a three-year deal with Pinarello-Q36.5, coming just one day after he won the Czech Tour overall with two stage wins. After his time with Ineos Grenadiers, this shift suggests a desire for a different trajectory.
Pinarello-Q36.5 has been aggressive in the market, also announcing signings like Sebastian Berwick, Pavel Pittner, and Mauro Schmid. They seem to be building a focused development program for young talent. From a broadcast and narrative perspective, it will be interesting to see if he gets more leadership opportunities here than he would have in the Ineos structure.
Do you think this is the ideal move for August's Grand Tour ambitions, or is it a risk to leave a powerhouse like Ineos this early?