The Zarf team is on the verge of collapse after the departure of a new team member, leaving the team to compete with a minimum of eight riders as required by the UCI.

Lucie Genier announced her move to Coop Hitech Products on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mareille Meijering is moving to Movistar after posing for pictures with Movistar earlier this week.

A total of seven riders have left the Spanish team, which has been in meltdown in recent weeks over alleged non-payment of salaries; the UCI (International Cycling Union) has allowed riders to terminate their contracts and work elsewhere since the beginning of April, and many have already done so.

Zarf, which started the season with 15 riders, is now down to eight, the minimum number of riders on a UCI-registered women's continental team.

The team could already be below that limit if other riders have already left but have not announced it or have not yet found new teams.

French champion Audrey Cordon-Lago was the first to leave her contract and join Human Powered Health in time for Paris-Roubaix. She was followed by Maggie Coles-Lister, Heidi Frantz, Mikaela Drummond, Lizzie Stannard, and Meijerling, and now Junier.

Junier is a 24-year-old French sprinter who was a member of the Arkea team before joining Zarf earlier this year. She will show off her new colors at the Omloop Van Borssele on Saturday.

"I am very happy to join Coop Hitech. This team has been in the peloton for a long time, so I know that they have a really professional structure and staff. After the bad experience I had this year, it's exactly what I need," Junier said.

"I hope to start my first race with the team this weekend. I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates and getting back to the peloton. I'm training hard and I can't wait to get back to the top of the standings."

Team manager Carl Lima said, "We have been trying to sign Lucy for some time, so when this opportunity came up, we didn't hesitate. Her experience and past performance make her a very strong addition to our rider roster."

"We are very excited to have her join our team.

Meijering was also announced as joining Movistar on Thursday, bringing to four the number of riders who have found new homes, following Lizzie Stannard joining Israel Premier Tech-Laurent last week.

Meyering is 28 years old, but is a relative newcomer to the pro cycling rider scene, having juggled amateur-level racing with his studies in finance and economics. Last year he rode his first full season with the Multum Accountants team, and in 2023 he stepped up with Zaaf and finished 10th in the UAE Tour.

"Despite Mareille's relatively late start to full-time commitment to cycling, she carries a "full life" of racing experience from her races in the Netherlands and has all the necessary skills and experience," said Movistar boss Sebastien Unzue

"She doesn't know almost all the big races yet, but her progress over the past year and a half, with her complete focus on motorcycle racing, gives us hope that she will become a great rider."

Meijering signed a contract for almost two years, from May 1 through the end of the 2024 season.

"It's been a very fast roller coaster for me! If you had told me six months ago that I would be joining this team, I wouldn't have believed you," she said.

"Last year, it was a real adventure to compete on the World Tour while teaching full time. This year, not having to work full time has allowed me to focus on training, racing, and especially resting. I'm looking forward to seeing how much progress I can make once I can fully focus on cycling."