Former Team Cubeca manager Douglas Ryder is planning a return to the upper echelons of professional cycling as manager of the soon-to-be launched Q36.5 team in 2023.

Tuttobici's report (opens in new tab) confirms rumors that the team's new technical consultant is recently retired Italian Vincenzo Nibali; Nibali, the 2014 Tour de France champion, has so far refused to comment on his involvement, but in an interview he gave details about the team's structure.

According to the Sicilian rider, 23 riders have joined the team since it was brought in by Luigi Bergamo, founder of the Q36.5 technical clothing company.

"My days are really intense," Nibali told Alessandro Brambilla of Tuttosport. 'A lot of time is spent on the computer sending and receiving e-mails, more phone calls, more mental stress. I keep getting up early in the morning, like when I had to train for the classics."

"I've been working out a lot," Nibali said.

Nibali revealed many of the players and staff involved in the new project.

The sports directors include Piotr Wadecki, former general manager of the CCC team, which ceased to exist in 2020, as well as Gabriele Missaglia, Alex Sanz Vega, and Aalto Vierhouten, who worked for Ryder's previous team.

Trek-Segafredo Italian riders Gianluca Brambilla and Matteo Moschetti, Filippo Conca (Lotto Soudal), Swiss rider Matteo Badilat (Groupama-FDJ) and mountain bike specialists Filippo Colombo, and neo-professionals Antonio Puppio, Niccolo Parisini, and Walter Calzoni are all said to be part of this team.

Jack Bauer and Damien Howson from BikeExchange-Jayco and Tom Devlint, Mark Donovan (Team DSM), and Jonas Rapp (Flinco Adovalix Continental Team) from Intermarché will reportedly.

"Other names will be officially announced in early November; Q36.5 will ride Scott's bike. The team recently had a meeting in Sorbiate Orona (Varese) and the next training camp will be in Calpe, Spain," Nibali said.